A 21-day winter school on “Advances in the Management of Agriculturally Important Insects,” organized by the Department of Entomology of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), began in the University. In total, 24 candidates including six women from different states of India namely Assam, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh are participating in the programme, sponsored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. Dr Pardeep Kumar Chhuneja, Head, Department of Entomology, is the Director of the winter school.
Dr G.K. Sangha, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, PAU, who was the chief guest of the inaugural session, emphasized the role of integrated pest management approaches in agriculture. Increase in global agricultural production during the last few decades has come about through the adoption of high-input farming systems with dynamic role of pesticides, but the indiscriminate use of pesticides has ecological and environmental concerns, she observed.
Dr Sangha also laid stress on the global awareness about the adverse effects of insecticides and the need for developing non-chemical approaches compatible with other tactics of integrated pest management. Since training is an interactive learning process, it will be beneficial for both the trainees and the faculty members, she added.
Dr Chhuneja said the training programme schedule includes 83 discussion lectures and practical on the advances in the management of agriculturally important insects. In addition to resource persons from PAU, experts from National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bangalore; Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology, Gurugram; Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata; Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, Faridabad; and Eternal University, Baru Sahib (H.P.), will be sharing knowledge on various aspects of insect management. Besides, stalwarts in entomology superannuated from PAU will also be enlightening the trainee scientists.
Dr Manmeet Bhullar, Senior Acarologist, and Dr Vijay Kumar, Senior Entomologist, are the Technical Coordinators of the winter school.
Source:http://www.pau.edu/
