Trainees with officials during the training programme under ‘Skill Training of Rural Youth’ on Integrated Pest Management held at the KVK Office Conference Hall, Tesophenyu from December 1 to 7. (Photo Courtesy: KVK Kohima)
Kohima, December 9 (MExN): A six-day training programme under ‘Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY)’ on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was held at the KVK Office Conference Hall, Tesophenyu from December 1 to 7.
It was organized by office of the Senior Scientist and Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kohima in collaboration with Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Umiam, Meghalaya and National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, Telangana.
A press release from KVK Kohima office Stated that the inaugural programme was chaired by and the programme begun with an invocation prayer by Medzonkhe Seb (Supporting Staff).
In his keynote address, K Michael Pienyu, Course In Charge stated that our farmers face substantial losses due to insect pest damage alone and that optimum production and productivity of crops were never achieved due to the lack of awareness on effective pest management practices.
He pointed out that yield losses due to insect pest attack in the country is estimated 16.8% annually which amounts to about US$ 30 billion despite various control measures. “But owing to several health hazards associated with the use of chemical pesticides,” he encouraged the farmers to adopt IPM practices which are ecologically safe and economically viable.
Dr Ruokuovilie Mezhatsu, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK Kohima said that IPM programmes have proven a track record of significantly reducing the risks related to pesticide usage while improving the quality, health and welfare of the environment and urged the trainees to diligently learn all about IPM during the training and disseminate the knowledge among themselves for sustainable pest control.
The resource persons of the technical sessions were Zhiete (ACTO Soil Conservation), Imtisenla (ACTO Agronomy) and Kerukuolie Michael Pienyu (ACTO Plant Protection).
Altogether, as per STRY norms, 15 rural youths from Tesophenyu village and Ziphenyu village were trained and the programme concluded with distribution of bio-pesticides and certificates to all the participants which were handed over by Dr Ruokuovilie Mezhatsu, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK Kohima.
