SRINAGAR: A 15 days training programme on “Production of Low Cost Biopesticides” was inaugurated Saturday at Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC) SKUAST-Kashmir, Khudwani, Kulgam. The training programme is aimed at familiarising PG students and unemployed rural youth on the practical aspects of biopesticides production. Thirty PG students and five unemployed rural youth have been registered as participants in the training programme.
The training programme is sponsored by ICAR-National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP). Prof. Sarfaraz A. Wani, Director Research SKUAST-Kashmir, chief guest on the occasion emphasised the role of organic and natural farming in building soil, plant and human health. He urged all the stake holders and the participants to promote entrepreneurship development in organic input production and popularise organic farming for enhancing income of farmers.
Prof. Azmat Alam, OSD to Hon’ble Vice Chancellor urged the organisers to widen the scope of such trainings to students of other academic institutions that help in developing trained human resource and generating employment opportunities. Prof. Najeeb R. Sofi, Assoc. Director Research MRCFC, Khudwani highlighted the role and mandate of MRCFC in developing high yielding varieties of rice, rapeseed, wheat and maize in achieving the food security for the region.
Dr. Fayaz A. Mohiddin, co-ordinator of the training programme discussed about the course contents and role of biopesticides in plant disease management. A training brochure on the production technology of low cost biopesticides was also released on the occasion.

KR Desk