A workshop on “Efficient Plant Health Management for Boosting Farmers Income” was organised by MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Shoolini University in the virtual mode where speakers from Government of India, ICAR and pesticide industry shared their views on the subject.
Different approaches to manage the losses due to plant diseases were discussed. The workshop was inaugurated by Chancellor P.K. Khosla, who impressed on the use of latest techniques of Plant health management so that environment and the food is pesticide free and that increased amount of quality food its available to the people.
Dr. P.K. Chakrabarty, Member (Plant Sciences) ASRB and Guest of Honour of the function, emphasised that significant losses are caused by pests including plant diseases and prevention of 20 per cent of which can ensure additional 60-65 million tons of grains, sufficient to feed 30 crore population till 2050.
Dr. Rashmi Aggarwal, Joint Director Research and Dean IARI, presented called for a new approach in understanding the mechanism of antagonism.
Dr. Celia Chalam, Head Division of Plant Quarantine, ICAR-NBPGR, gave a detailed view of quarantine process and emphasized the need for Biosecurity against transboundary pests and diseases to prevent external threat to sustainable agriculture.
Dr. YP Sharma, Ex-Prof. Emeritus ICAR, highlighted the role of mycorrhizae as a component of Integrated Pest Management.
Dr. Ashutosh Bhaik, Chairperson, FRAC India and Zonal Biology Leader, Corteva, India informed about the advances in new chemistries for plant health management, in the wake of growing concerns and consciousness of about the human and environmental biosafety. The novel mechanisms employed for plant health management included biorationals and new chemistries that are derived from the structure of antimicrobial plants and microbial products.
Dr SK Gupta, Professor Plant Pathology, MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture proposed the vote of thanks.
