SKUAST, KVK Shopian conduct prog on leaf miner in Shopian

Shopian, March 12: In a concerted effort to tackle the growing challenge of crop pests, the All India Coordinated Research Project on Biological Control of Crop Pests (AICRP-BC), Division of Entomology, SKUAST-K Shalimar, in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Shopian, organized an Awareness-cum-Scientist Farmer Interaction and material distribution programme at the District Employment and Counselling Centre in Shopian.
The initiative, sponsored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (ICAR-NBAIR), Bangalore, witnessed a gathering of agricultural experts, government officials, and farmers keen on enhancing pest management strategies.
The event commenced with a warm welcome address by Dr. Zafar Badri, Head of KVK Shopian, setting the tone for discussions on effective pest management techniques.
Professor Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi, Director Extension, SKUAST-K, graced the occasion as the chief guest, offering insights into managing newly emerging pests plaguing crops.
Dr. Nasir Ahmad, ADDC, Shopian, added to the significance of the event as the Guest of Honour, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in agricultural advancements.
The core of the programme featured detailed lectures by eminent entomologists including Dr. Sajad Mohi-ud-Din, Associate Professor of Entomology, along with Dr. Rizwana Khursheed (Principal Investigator) and Dr. Mudasir Gani Bhat (Co-Principal Investigator).
Their presentations focused on insect pest management, particularly addressing the challenges posed by leaf miner infestations in apple and other crops.
Prof. Shaheen Gul underscored the urgency of addressing the leaf miner menace, highlighting its detrimental effects on crop yields.As a tangible outcome of the event, essential pest management tools such as Knapsack sprayers, Hand sprayers, Pheromone traps, Gunny cloth, and Neem oil were distributed among 100 tribal farmers from the district of Shopian.
This distribution was made possible under the ICAR-NBAIR sponsored Tribal Sub-plan (2023-24), aimed at empowering local farmers with the necessary resources to combat crop pests effectively.
The participation of other scientists from KVK Shopian further enriched the discourse, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration among stakeholders.