Training in pest management

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 16

A three-day training programme on ‘Integrated Pest Management in Forestry and Control of Insects, Pests and Diseases in Medicinal Plants’ started at Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI) today.

The programme focuses on the pest and disease incidence in trees and medicinal plants in the North-Western Himalayas and their control measures.

Dr VP Tewari, Director, HFRI, expressed concern over the incidence of different pests in various tree species which contributed towards the drying of indigenous as well as exotic species planted in the fragile ecosystem.

He said the best way to deal with such problems was to develop species specific integrated pest management technology and make information available to the end users like the Forest Department.

He said the research carried out by the HFRI should also ensure the transfer of technology, from “Lab to Land” so that it became a public-orientated programme for the ultimate benefit of the common man.

Dr Ranjeet Singh, training coordinator, HFRI, drew the attention of the participants towards the large- scale out-break of deodar defoliator in the forest of outer Himalayas.

He said due to the climate change, the pest and disease outbreaks had been observed in many tree species causing a serious damage.

Foresters, forest guards from Chamba, Kinnaur, Rampur, Dharmshala and farmers from Shimla district attended the programme.