Promotion of Vegetable Cultivation in UT of Lakshadweep Islands under TSP

As a follow up of ICAR-Regional committee meeting of Zone VIII held on 14 September 2021, the ICAR-NBPGR Regional Station Thrissur and ICAR-KVK, Lakshadweep held a training cum seed distribution of adapted tropical vegetables in Kavaratti and Agatti Islands of U.T of Lakshadweep on 9th and 10th January, 2022 respectively. Due to varied reasons, cultivation and consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits is very low in the islands and growing vegetables for own consumption in homesteads and roof tops are the best option. With this aim, in association with the KVK of ICAR-CMFRI Lakshadweep, 25 beneficiaries each mostly women farmers identified by Dweepshree Self Help Group Mission, Kavaratti and Jawahar Arts & Sports club and Young Brothers club, Agatti, were distributed inputs like tyre pots, bio pesticides, pheromone traps, organic manures, improved (KAU released) and traditional seeds of 16 vegetables, besides planting materials of tissue culture banana, a few perennials like Chekkurmanis, Malabar spinach, Ceylon spinach, Diplazium, Potato yam, leafy taro, Teasel gourd etc.
Dr. M. Latha, Principal Scientist & Officer In- Charge, Drs Joseph John K, K Pradheep & Suma A, all from NBPGR and Dr. N. Ananth, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK Lakshadweep spoke on various aspects of vegetable cultivation and implementation of this dream project under TSP of ICAR. The Dweepshree mission at Kavaratti and members of Young Brothers and Jawahar Arts & Sports club at Agatti were very enthusiastic about continuity of the programme. Committees were formed for monitoring the implementation and a few outstanding vegetable farmers were honoured. After the conclusion of the session, participants were taken out to some homestead farms for demonstration of package of practices. The team surveyed a few homestead gardens and provided suggestions to augment species diversity in the existing gardens for year round availability of fresh vegetables.