Port Blair, May 09: Fruits are an essential component of a healthy diet and play a major role in providing essential nutrients to the body. Post-COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increased emphasis on the importance of consumption of fruits. A number of major and underutilized fruits can be cultivated under island condition in home gardens with minimum maintenance. As a part of Azadika Amrit Mahotsav, an awareness programme on “Fruit Cultivation in Home Garden ” was conducted by ICAR-CIARI on May 8, 2023 at Harminder Bay, Little Andaman under Scheduled Tribe Component. During the programme, coordinator – Dr. Pooja Bohra, Scientist-SS (Fruit Science), ICAR-CIARI made the participants aware about the importance of fruit consumption and encouraged them to grow fruits in their home gardens. To facilitate them in this venture, a variety of hand tools which are required for farming such as pickaxe, sickle, spade, machete and hand hoe were distributed to 100 participants, which included 64 male and 36 female participants. Mr. Festus N., Secretary, Tribal Council, Herminder Bay expressed his gratitude for conducting the programme for the benefits of tribal farmers of the islands. The programme was co-coordinated by Dr. Ajit Arun Waman, Scientist-SS, ICAR-CIARI under the supervision of Dr. P.K. Singh, Head (I/c), Division of Horticulture and Crop Improvement, ICAR-CIARI and guidance of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI.
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