Kupwara, March 27: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) organized an outreach programme on eco-friendly pest management at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Kupwara on Thursday, aiming to promote sustainable agricultural practices among tribal farmers.
The programme was conducted under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Biological Control of Crop Pests (AICRP-BC), Division of Entomology, Faculty of Horticulture, SKUAST-K Shalimar, with support from ICAR–National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (ICAR-NBAIR), Bengaluru.
Prof. Rahiaina Habib Kanth, Director Extension, SKUAST-K, who attended the event as Chief Guest, emphasized the importance of environmentally safe and sustainable pest management practices in enhancing crop productivity and ensuring long-term soil health.
Dr. Akhtar Ali Khan, Professor & Head, Division of Entomology, and Dr. G. M. Bhat, Professor & Head, KVK Kupwara, also addressed the gathering. They encouraged farmers to adopt integrated pest management (IPM) techniques, highlighting their effectiveness in reducing dependency on chemical pesticides while improving crop quality.
During the technical sessions, Dr. Sajad Mohi-ud-Din, Principal Investigator, and Dr. Mudasir Gani, Co-Principal Investigator, provided detailed insights into pest management strategies for key crops including pulses, maize, and apple. The experts laid special focus on biological control methods as a sustainable alternative to conventional practices.
As part of the Tribal Sub-Plan initiative of ICAR-NBAIR, essential agricultural inputs such as rajmash seeds, vermicompost, pheromone traps, and neem oil were distributed among participating tribal farmers to support eco-friendly farming.
The programme concluded with an interactive session, where farmers shared their experiences and appreciated SKUAST-K’s efforts in promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible agriculture in the area.
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