Training on integrated pest management in horticultural crops begins

PASIGHAT, Jun 13: In all, 35 progressive farmers and rural youths from Ruksin, Pasighat and Mebo blocks of East Siang district took part in a three-day training programme on ‘Integrated Pest Management in Horticultural Crops’which began at the College of Horticulture & Forestry, Central Agricultural University, here on Thursday.
Sponsored by the Central Institute of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Medziphema, Nagaland for the rural youth and farming community of East Siang district, the training was aimed at imparting scientific knowledge and skill to the participants on recent advances in integrated pest management in horticultural crops.
In his inaugural address, CHF Dean, Prof. B.N. Hazarika highlighted the importance of integrated pest management for enhancing quantity and quality of farm produce in horticultural crops to farming community of North Eastern Hill (NEH) region. He further elaborated the future and prospects of integrated pest management in horticultural crops in NEH region.
Head of Plant Protection Department at CHF, Prof. D.B. Ahuja elaborated the scope of integrated pest management in horticultural crops for entrepreneurship development among rural youth and farmers of the state. He also highlighted different programmes run by the department for benefit of farmers and rural youth of the region.
Assistant Horticulture Specialist, Central Institute of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Medziphema, Nagaland, Dr.Moasosang Longkumar highlighted about different ongoing schemes and programmes of the institute for benefit of farming community of NEH region.
Course Coordinator, Toge Riba highlighted the present scenario of integrated pest management(IPM) in horticultural crops and its future prospects in Arunachal Pradesh. He also briefed about different IPM programmes conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra East Siang in creating awareness about hazards due to excessive use of agrochemicals in the region.
Later, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK East Siang, Dr. Mahesh Pathak also emphasized on importance of management of insect pest and disease in horticultural crops through IPM interventions, and use of biopesticides, biofertilizers and proven technologies for promoting IPM in the district.