Port Blair, Jul 26 (FN Agency) The Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration Jitendra Narain launched “Plant Vegetables, Fruits, Flowers and Save Seeds Campaign Vision 2047-Processed Food Exports” in Andaman. Addressing the gathering at Sippighat Agriculture Farm on Sunday said, the Chief Secretary stated that all Departments should play a catalytic role in the success of this mission which will provide food security to all in A&N Islands. Opining that this campaign is a Vision – 2047 for the A&N Islands, he mentioned that with the cooperation of all stakeholders and the people, we can achieve the goal of turning the Islands into a major exporter of fruits and processed food. He exhorted the citizens to strive to turn this mission into a people’s movement and appealed to individuals/ organizations and others to plant saplings of fruit and vegetables with the motto “Live for others”.
The Chief Secretary and others planted saplings of fruit bearing trees in the campus of Sippighat Agricultural Farm on the occasion. Elaborating on the vision 2047, the Chief Secretary informed that there are 200 components associated with this mission and we are planning to take up one component on every Sunday. The first and foremost aim of launching this campaign is to lessen the dependency of vegetables and fruits from the mainland.
There should be a systematic plantation of vegetables and fruit bearing trees so that people can easily reap the vegetables and fruits for their consumption, he said. The Chief Secretary stated that for its value addition and agro – plantation, the Industries Department will look after it in the next stage. Dwelling upon the objective of the mission, he said, “Our aim is that no one should remain without food during situations like pandemic, lockdowns, blockade or war.” The motto of this mission is “no one should sleep empty stomach”. The labourers need vegetables and during this season, the rates of the vegetables were very high and this mission, he said will help in feeding the vulnerable section of the society.