PAU ORGANISES FARMERS' FIELD DAY ON ADOPTION OF BIOCONTROL TECHNOLOGIES

Ludhiana, October 20, 2016: The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR), Bangalore and Nahar Sugar Mills, Amloh organized a farmers’ field day on “Adoption of Biocontrol Technologies” at the village Fatehpur, district Patiala. The field day aimed at creating awareness among the farmers regarding role of natural enemies in the management of economically important insects.

The Chief Guest, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU stressed on the adoption of biocontrol technologies exclusively and in conjunction with other management techniques such as timely sowing of crop, selection of varieties, need based application of green triangle insecticides using proper dosage and water. He thanked the sugar mills for helping in propagating the usage of tricho-cards for management of sugarcane borers. He hoped that the area under biocontrol technologies would increase in future.

Dr R.S. Sidhu, Director of Extension Education, PAU welcomed the dignitaries and the farmers.

Dr S. K. Jalali, Project Coordinator, All India Coordinated Research Project on Biological Control, Bangalore highlighted the role ofTrichogrammain the management of sugarcane borers, maize borer and leaf folder, and stem borer of basmati rice.

Dr D.B. Ahuja, Director of ICAR-National Centre for Integrated Pest Management shared the technologies developed by the centreviz.light traps, pheromone traps and other eco-friendly techniques for monitoring and management of insect-pests.

Dr P.K. Chakraborty, Additional Director General (Plant Protection and Biosafety), ICAR advised the farmers to adopt integrated pest management protocols using bioagents to minimize the use of insecticides. He also suggested them to get information on latest farming practices from Farmers Portal of the Government of India.

Dr Chandish Ballal, Director, ICAR-NBAIR, motivated the farmers to come to Bangalore for training on low cost mass production of bioagents and biopesticides.

A progressive farmer, S Gurmail Singh Guneke shared his experience of using bioagents (Tricho-cards) in maize, sugarcane, jowar and basmati rice. He also urged the fellow farmers to adopt non-chemical methods of insect control.

Dr R S Gill, Head, Department of Entomology, proposed the vote of thanks. This field day, being a maiden attempt to popularize the use of biocontrol technologies, was appreciated by the farmers who vowed to adopt and disseminates the technologies.