Port Blair, Mar 11: A Two days HRD Programme on Vegetable Crops i.e Tomato, Green Chilies, Bottle gourd was conducted by Central Integrated Pest Management Centre (CIPMC), Port Blair on 10th and 11th March 2022 at Sitapur, Shaheed Dweep.
The focus of the programme was on the management of major Insect Pests in vegetable crops through IPM practices- Cultural, Mechanical, Biological methods including various Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITKs) of the region.
Mr. H.P. Ramesh, Plant Protection Officer (E), CIPMC, Port Blair in his inaugural address emphasized the importance of natural enemies in field crops and the residual effect of pesticides on vegetables & their perpetuation in the Food Chain.
He expressed his serious concern over the adverse effect of pesticides residues above MRL in vegetable samples consumed in day-to-day life and highlighted the importance of various IPM/IDM modules in Organic farming for pest and disease management.
Dr. Atul Gawande, APPO (PP) discussed briefly the identification of diseases of vegetable crops and their management through Seed treatment with bio-pesticides and demonstrated types of pheromone/sticky Traps, Trap crops.
Dr. Janardan Saikia, APPO(E), discussed insect life cycle and their management based on crop stages, the importance of Tricho-cards for management of insect pests and the need for IPM in organic farming.
Dr. Chandan Lal, SCFA, Department of Agriculture, Shaheed Dweep expressed his views on biological pest control practices in present-day sustainable vegetable farming.
Farmer’s field visit was conducted at Sitapur village for identification of insect pest, natural enemies and Pheromone trap was installed in pumpkin plot with the help of Mr. Ranjan Bhakta and A. Muttu kumar to demonstrate the mass trapping of fruit fly with locally available resources.
Mrs. Pinky Das, Gram Panchayat Member, Progressive Farmers Mr. Chinta Haran Bishwas, Mr. Samar Biswas, Mr. Panchanan Biswas expressed their experiences about Organic Farming and the importance of Natural enemies and honey bees.
