Two-Day IPM Program Organized at Bijnhbaiyla Gram Panchayat by Locust-Cum-Integrated Pest Management Center

Sri Ganganagar:* A **two-day IPM (Integrated Pest Management) orientation program** was inaugurated on Wednesday and Thursday at **Bijnhbaiyla Gram Panchayat** by the **Locust-Cum-Integrated Pest Management Center**, under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India. Farmers participated enthusiastically in the event.

The program was inaugurated by **Dr. R. K. Sharma**, Office Head and Deputy Director (Plant Protection), along with **Assistant Director Mr. Prakash Chandra**. Dr. Sharma provided detailed insights into the **basic principles and components of IPM technology**, including weed management in Rabi crops. He discussed the use of IPM methods **from field preparation to harvest**, covering practical, mechanical/physical, biological, and chemical approaches. Dr. Sharma emphasized that the indiscriminate and unsafe use of chemical pesticides has increased harmful residues in crops, which are extremely hazardous to human health. He advised farmers to **maximize the use of biological pesticides** and reserve chemical pesticides for final treatments only.

**Assistant Director (Plant Protection) Mr. Prakash Chandra** explained in detail how to identify and control **Fall Armyworm**, as well as other pests affecting Rabi crops. He encouraged farmers to use **biological pesticides**—such as neem oil and homemade solutions made from green chili and garlic—instead of chemical pesticides. This not only protects the environment and human health but also ensures better crop yield. Biological pesticides also help **conserve beneficial insects**, reducing the overall need for chemicals.

**Assistant Plant Protection Officer Mr. Jitendra Meena** elaborated on the symptoms and management of diseases in Rabi crops. He advised farmers to use **yellow and blue sticky cards** to control sap-sucking pests without chemical intervention. Farmers can make these cards at home using old cardboard or tin sheets, painted yellow or blue, and coated with grease before placing them in the field—a **cost-effective pest control method**. He also trained farmers to identify **beneficial insects** like Chrysoperla, ladybird beetles, spiders, Bracon, and Chelonus blackburni, emphasizing their protection to control harmful pests naturally and maintain environmental balance.

**Scientific Assistant Mr. Rohitshwa Kumar Chaudhary** demonstrated the use of the **NPSS mobile application (National Pest Surveillance System)**, developed by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. Farmers were shown how to use the app in the fields to **identify pests and diseases** and receive complete guidance on treatments.

**Scientific Assistant Ms. Varsha** also guided farmers in recognizing beneficial insects and highlighted their conservation for sustainable pest control.

The program focused on the **concepts and components of IPM, preventing indiscriminate chemical pesticide use, identification of harmful and beneficial insects, Rabi crop pest and disease management, the National Pest Surveillance System, and biological pesticides**.

Along with officials from the Locust-Cum-IPM Center, senior agriculture officials from the **State Agriculture Department**, including Senior Agriculture Observer **Kuldeep Kumar**, Agriculture Observers **Anita Bishnoi, Ravikant Jangu, Rajesh Jangu**, and **Rekha**, participated, providing farmers with information on government agricultural schemes.

During the program, each farmer was also provided **one packet of Trichoderma** as part of the IPM initiatives.