Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 18 December 2024
A comprehensive training program to onboard progressive farmers from Great Nicobar Island to the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) was held recently at the Zonal Agriculture Office in Campbell Bay. The initiative aimed to equip farmers with modern tools and technology for effective pest management.
Dr. Shiva Kumar H. D., Assistant Plant Protection Officer at CIPMC (Central Integrated Pest Management Centre) Sri Vijaya Puram, led the session, introducing the farmers to innovative pest control methods and the NPSS Mobile application. He emphasized the importance of the NPSS portal, which allows farmers to identify pest infestations, report them, and access timely advisories to make informed decisions that protect their crops.
During the training, Ms. Shakila Nawaz, Assistant Director (Agri) at the Zonal Agriculture Office, highlighted the role of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in modern agriculture. She explained how IPM combines biological, mechanical, and chemical control methods, reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides and promoting healthier, more sustainable farming practices.
Mr. Sitaram, Junior Agriculture Assistant, also addressed the farmers, stressing the significance of bio-pesticides in island agriculture. He pointed out the health concerns associated with pesticide residues in food and advocated for eco-friendly bio-pesticide alternatives to protect the island’s fragile ecosystem.
Additionally, Mr. Jeyaraj, Agriculture Technology Manager at ATMA, provided an overview of the various subsidies and schemes available to farmers to support their agricultural endeavours.
The event included a field demonstration at a farm in Govind Nagar, where the participating farmers and five agriculture officials had hands-on experience with three key modules of the NPSS Mobile App: Pest Identification, Image Upload (Quantitative), and Pest Data Entry (Qualitative).
A rapid roving survey was also conducted by Dr. Shiva Kumar H. D. and Mr. Sitaram across seven villages of Great Nicobar Island to assess pest and disease incidence and select the farmers for the training program.
This initiative marks a significant step toward empowering local farmers with advanced tools and knowledge, ensuring a more sustainable and efficient approach to pest management on Great Nicobar Island.