A two-day training cum awareness programme on biopesticide for the management of poplar defoliator was started at the Forest Research Institute here on Monday. This training programme is a lab to land activity on the use of biopesticide developed by FRI with the support from Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi. The training programme is being attended by 40 farmers and poplar growers from different villages of Uttarakhand and adjoining areas. Inaugurating the training cum awareness programme in the Sabbawala village, Dehradun, the FRI director Savita highlighted the adverse effects of synthetic pesticides on humans and environment and stressed upon the utility of the use of biopesticides as a safe alternative of the synthetic pesticides, which is environmentally safe and having no side effects.
She appreciated the collective efforts of Chemistry and Entomology Division, FRI for organising this training programme for the benefit of poplar growers and farmers. She called upon the participants to use the field tested biopesticide developed by FRI for management of poplar defoliator which will be of immense benefit to the farmers in terms of increased productivity of poplar and upliftment of their socio economic status.
Earlier, welcoming the participants, the institute’s chemistry division scientist Rashmi informed them about the management of the pests of forestry and the importance using biopesticides. She also spoke about the products and services developed by FRI, which are useful for the farmers and tree growers.
Institute scientists also gave an overview of the training programme. They informed the participants that the training has been designed to meet the expectation of the farmers. The Inaugural function was attended by heads of the divisions of the FRI, senior scientists and staff of the institute.