Summary:
VISAKHAPATNAM: ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR), Bengaluru, organised a tribal farmers’ meet at Pedalabudu village in Araku Valley mandal . Many scientists from different agro research institutes participated and interacted with the tribal farmers. Dr Ballal emphasised on the importance of biological control of crop pets in organic farming and encouraged tribal farmers of Araku Valley to use biological agents in the fields extensively. Around 130 farmers attended the meeting.The event was organised as part of NBAIR silver jubilee celebrations in collaboration with Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) at chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s adopted village Pedalabudu on Friday to create awareness about organic cultivation and biological control of crop pests.The event was inaugurated by Dr Chandish R Ballal, director of NBAIR, in the presence of scientists from the regional agricultural research station (RARS), Anakapalle. The farmers were encouraged to use biological agents such as Trichogramma cards and Pseudomona powder in paddy with demonstrations and distribution of bio-control agent.The programme on adoption of biological control agents for pest management in paddy fields during the last two years by M Visalakshi, RARS, Anakapalle in Kothavalasa, Gunjaniguda and Nandiguda villages of Araku Valley was highlighted.The success was attributed to effective networking between the main centre of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP), Bengaluru, and regional stations of ANGRAU at Anakapalle through ICAR tribal sub-plan programme..