STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES FOR XIITH PLAN

1. STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES FOR XIITH PLAN • Encouraging High Value, Low Volume, Low External Input in Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA) to increase the productivity, sustainability and make agriculture a vibrant industry for the overall economic development of the Islands. • Encouraging farmers for adoption of Organic farming for enhancing their remuneration and for healthy environment & society. • Adoption of modern farm mechanization technology. • Enhance soil fertility status for higher productivity, adoption of Soil erosion control measures and development of micro irrigation facilities. • Enhancing skills and faster generation of employment by imparting training in various capacity building/ skill development programmes for farmers through enhanced private participation in agriculture/horticulture sector. • Encourage additional area coverage in field crops by minimizing risk involvement in agriculture as well as compensating the low productivity / crop damages. • By providing marketing infrastructure and support for post harvest management (PHM). Establishment of storage facilities, including cold storages. • Increased participation of citizens through PRIs in decision making relating to all agricultural/ horticulture activities.

2. INTERVENTIONS/ACTIVITIES DURING 2013-14 • Assistance @ 20% cost and 100% transport to be provided on all agriculture inputs. • Distribution of 500000 seedlings, 63 MT seeds and 2200 MT fertilizers to the farmers at subsidized rates. • Training and demonstrations to be conducted on various agriculture activities for farmers. • Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme will be implemented by installation of Automatic Weather Station throughout the Islands. • 2300 Soil Health Cards to be issued to the farmers. • Micro Irrigation System such as drip and sprinkler system, covering an area of 10 ha to be installed.

3. Specific issues of the State • Enhancement of Subsidy on Centrally Sponsored Schemes. The geographical situation of these islands are different from the mainland: Islands are far flung, scattered with difficult terrain. To implement various schemes of CDB, NHM, NHB, MMA etc. agricultural inputs are procured from mainland and further transported to different islands from Port Blair, which increases the cost manifold. This is on account of the transportation costs and overhead charges etc, which result in much higher beneficiary contribution than that of the contribution of a beneficiary in the mainland. Hence, enhancement in subsidy component for each beneficiary. • No proper storage godowns in rural areas, farmers facing difficulties during surplus and harsh weather.

4. Good practices and success stories covering 3-4 critical areas Good Practices • Promotion of Integrated Farming practices with crops like paddy, vegetable, inland fisheries and poultry. • To increased productivity in coconut through Coconut Mission at Car Nicobar- production increased from 21 nuts per palm to 49 nuts (2009-2012). • For sustainable development in Agriculture, organic farming is being promoted and implemented in these Islands through construction of vermi compost units. • To promote Hi-tech cultivation, poly houses, green houses has been taken up by the Department under National Horticulture Mission. • Fruit and Vegetable Mission at Car Nicobar has been launched to increase area, production and productivity of fruits and vegetable in the Nicobar District thereby improving the nutritional status by including fruit and vegetable in the dietary habits of the tribal population there.

5. Success Stories • Women empowerment – Women’s role in ATMA created a land mark in the development of Agriculture in this UT. Mrs. Asha Latha Par, owner of 5.00 acres of land at Netaji Nagar, Hutbay (Little Andaman) has taken up cultivation of arecanut, coconut and improved varieties of fruits. In addition, she also cultivates vegetables getting a subsidy income of Rs.15,000/- per month. Necessary financial assistance as well as technical knowhow are being provided by the Department. Mrs. Asha Latha is a very active women farmer and a farmer friend as well, using the opportunity available under ATMA, she motivate farmers to make use of all the opportunities, aiming for the development of farming communities.

6. Shri. Ashok Kumar Sarkar of Govindapur, Mayabunder, North & Middle Andaman District, a progressive farmer of Mayabunder participated in all the awareness training programmes conducted by the Department of Agriculture as well as CARI. He has adopted Integrated farming and multiple cropping programme and able to produce round the year. He has adopted organic cultivation of paddy and other field crops for which he has constructed vermicompost tank, with assistance under RKVY. He is having his own vermi hatchery and selling earthworms to other farmers nearby. He has constructed low cost polyhouse and grows vegetables even during days of heavy rain.

7. Critical gaps in State Plan 2013-14