Season-long training on Integrated Pest Management begins

GANGTOK, 18 Aug: As part of the National Integrated Pest Management initiative, the Central Integrated Pest Management Centre, Gangtok is organizing a Season Long Training Programme on Integrated Pest Management in vegetable crops starting from today.
As per a press release, the month long training programme, which will conclude on 16 September, is being held with the objective to strengthen and modernize plant protection and is being organized in collaboration with the state Food Security & Agriculture Development and Horticulture Cash Crop & Development Department.
The programme was inaugurated by Minister of FS&AD and HCC&DD, Somnath Poudyal at the Conference Hall of SAMETI, ICAR complex, Tadong, Gangtok. A number of senior officers from both the state and central Government were present at the inaugural ceremony.
They shared their views on the prospect of collaboration between the Sikkim Organic Mission and the National Integrated Pest Management programme being implemented in the state by the CIPMC, Gangtok.
Additional Plant Protection Adviser of the Govt. of India, Dr. Ram Asre welcomed all on behalf of the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage. Plant Protection Adviser, Dr. SN Sushil in his brief speech congratulated the initiative of the State Government towards organic mission. He also emphasized the importance of quality control of organic products and bio-pesticides for quality export.  Also, he requested the State Government to provide land for setting up of a full-fledged facility for CIPMC, Gangtok for the benefit of state agriculture.
Secretary, HCC&DD, K Bhutia informed that some cash crops like large cardamom and ginger are suffering from diseases and exhorted the scientists to evolve practical measure to combat these diseases. In-charge, ICAR Complex, Tadong, Dr. AK Avasthi mentioned that the changing climatic scenario in this state is very congenial for development of all types of pests and diseases. Hence the importance of IPM has grown manifold in that perspective, he stated further expressing hope that this programme will cater to the need of plant protection in Sikkim.
The Minister said that organic products can be grown only by implementing IPM and asked the trainees to utilize the knowledge gained  from this month-long training programme and use it for future farm level implementation in their work sphere.
He also remarked that Sikkim has been a pioneer by going organic and this programme is the “right programme at the right time”. He proposed to form a task force of all stake-holder organisations along with the Central Integrated Pest Management Centre (CIPMC), Gangtok on pest and disease management in Sikkim, the release mentions.  
In-Charge, CIPMC, Gangtok, Dr. P Mazumder thanked all the dignitaries, officials from State Department and Central Government organizations and trainees who attended the inaugural ceremony of this programme which is a first of its kind in this state