As part of World Environment Day (WED) celebration on June 05, 2020, Dr. Chandrika Mohan, Acting Head i/c planted a tree sapling (sour sop) in the Ecological Engineering garden at ICARCPCRI, Regional Station, Kayamkulam complying all COVID-19 protocols in vogue. This coconut based crop-habitat diversification is a self-reliant model of inclusiveness, continuous income and pest regression. In addition, she harvested a jack fruit of Vietnam super early planted two years ago in the same garden. As environment and economy follow two sides of the same coin, a symbolic planting of tree sapling (Environment) and harvesting a jack fruit (Economy) assumes significance on this day. The programme envisaged universal uniqueness of trees conserving biodiversity and regulating weather factors for accomplishing sustainable developmental goals in the future.

This day also marked the distribution of coconut seedlings to the farming community of the region for doubling income and livelihood security. With the WED theme focussing on to “Celebrate Biodiversity”, this silent event of symbolism reflected the concern of environment as well as compliance of strict COVID-19 pandemic protocols. This occasion was not even attended by other scientists, officers and staff of the Regional Station adopting de-clustering principles.