ICAR-CIARI establishes Pandanus Gene Bank

5th September 2022, Garacharma

ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair established a Pandanus Gene Bank at its Garacharma Research Farm today under the project funded by National Medicinal Plants Board, New Delhi, to conserve, evaluate and utilize different species of the Pandanus collected from different parts of Andaman and Nicobar. A total of 175 seedlings of various species viz. Pandanuslerum, Pandanustectorius, Pandanusodoriferand Pandanusamaryllifolius were planted in 2.0 acre of terraced land at ICAR-CIARI campus.

As part of World Coconut Day 2022 celebrations, thirty seedlings of five released coconut varieties of CIARI viz. DweepHaritha, DweepSona, CIARI Chandan, CIARI Surya and CIARI Annapurna were also planted in the field gene bank.

Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI presided over the the planting ceremony.

Dr. I. Jaisankar, Senior Scientist & coordinator of the programme briefed the background of research on Pandanus at ICAR-CIARI.

Dr. B.A. Jerard, Head, Division of Horticulture & Forestry elaborated the global scenario, historical importance of Pandanus trees in the livelihood of aboriginal tribes of Andaman & Nicobar Islands who used the starch-rich fruits as food, leaves as sailcloth, mats and ropes.

(Source: ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair)