Sikabamin, Mar 12: A state-level workshop on “Healthy Crops, Healthy Farmers: Promoting Integrated Pest Management for Sustainable Agriculture” along with a Kisan Mela was held at Sikabamin village in East Siang district on Wednesday to create awareness among farmers on sustainable farming practices and pest management.
The programme was organised by the College of Agriculture, Pasighat under the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, in collaboration with the ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management (NRIIPM), New Delhi, along with other agricultural research institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Shravan Manbhar Haldhar, principal scientist at ICAR-NRIIPM, highlighted the importance of maintaining healthy crops through scientific pest management practices. He informed that the research team has decided to develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM) model villages, enabling successful pest management practices adopted in selected villages to be replicated in surrounding areas.
NY Chanu, organising secretary and assistant professor at the College of Agriculture Pasighat, informed that Sikabamin has been selected as a maize IPM model village, while Mangnang village in East Siang will serve as a paddy and pulse IPM model village. She noted that farmers often either overuse chemical pesticides or avoid pest control measures altogether, which adversely affects agricultural land and crop productivity. The initiative aims to educate farmers on environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial pest management practices.
The workshop saw participation from various institutions and stakeholders, including Krishi Vigyan Kendra Pasighat, Directorate of Sericulture East Siang, CHF Stall, Arikculture Consultancy, Lego Cane and Bamboo, Siang Biotech Pasighat, Nandan Nursery Jonai, and farmers from Sikabamin and Mangnang villages.
During the event, stalls were evaluated, with Lego Cane and Bamboo securing the first prize, followed by Nandan Nursery Jonai in second place, while the Directorate of Sericulture East Siang and Krishi Vigyan Kendra Pasighat jointly won the third prize.
Chief guest Dungoli Libang urged farmers to actively consult agricultural experts and officers for guidance, assuring them that support teams are always available to help improve farming practices.
To promote the adoption of IPM practices, various inputs were also distributed among farmers during the programme, including knapsack sprayers, azadirachtin, neem plants, bio-pesticides and pheromone traps, aimed at helping farmers manage pests in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner.