The first meeting of the XI Research Advisory Committee of ICAR-Central Central Island Agricultural Research Institute was held during 16-17, May 2026. The meeting was chaired by Dr. B.S. Dwivedi, Former Member. ASRB & Director, NBSS & LUP, Nagpur, with expert members of Dr. Ashok Kumar, Ex ADG, Animal Health, ICAR, Dr. P. S. Birthal. Ex-Director. ICAR-NIAP, Dr. N. S. Rana, Ex-Dean, SVBPUAT, Meerut, Dr. B.S. Tomar, Ex-Head, Vegetable Science Division, ICAR-IARI, Dr Pratap Chandra Das, Head, Aquaculture Production Division. ICAR-CIFA, Shri. Varadharajan and Shri. Ankit Kumar Mridha as Farmers’ Representative, Dr. Jai Sunder, Director (A). The meeting was attended by all the scientists, SMS, KVKs, and Regional Station, Minicoy, Lakshadweep Islands.
During the meeting on 16th May 2026, overview of the institute achievements and activities was made by the Director. Dr. B.S. Dwivedi, chairman and other members, RAC appreciated the efforts of institute for its very good achievements and sincere efforts of all scientists of the institute. Dr. T.Sujatha, Member Secretary, presented the Action Taken Report (ATR) on the recommendations of previous RAC meeting held on April 22, 2025.
This was followed by presentations of research achievements by Heads of Divisions. Detailed discussions were held during the presentations and the RAC committee proposed recommendations and comments on future research work of the institute. The committee stressed upon the inter-institutional collaborations, road map for Island agriculture development, farmers participatory seed and planting material production to improve the self-sustainability in seed and planting materials.
Subsequently, the committee visited all the experimental fields of the institute. During the field visit, the committee suggested various points to improve the market linkage of CIARI scientific out puts and to face uplift of the only island specific research institute.