Country
Report: Click here
to download the report submitted at the meeting of the
Programme Advisory Committee, November 2001 (pdf file)
Training
Achievements: The
resources for the Season Long Training courses have come from international organisations
like FAO, ADB-CABI and UNDP. Under the aegis of these international
organisations, so far
27 Season Long Training courses have been conducted wherein 857 master trainers from
different States have been trained. Farmer Field Schools are being established under the
Central Sector Scheme and are being executed by the Central Directorate of plant
protection through 26 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres
(CIPMCs) located in 21
States and 1 Union Territory. Total accomplishment under the farmer Field Schools during
1994-99 has been in the order of establishment of 5702 FFS and training of 25134 AEOs
[Agricultural Extension officers] and 171,683 farmers.
Future Plans and Priorities:
During the 9th
Five Year Plan the Central Sector Scheme entitled "Promotion of IPM in India",
there is provision for 7-day and 15-day Orientation Training programmes on IPM to serve as
refresher courses for the masters trainers and Agricultural Extension Officers. In
addition, during the 9th Five Year Plan, there is proposal to conduct training
programmes in mass production of bio-control agents as well as in quality testing of
bio-control agents and bio-pesticides. There is increased target under pest/disease
monitoring, conservation and augmentation of bio-control agents and training to
Agricultural Extension Officers and farmers. Under the UNDP project entitled
"Development and strengthening of IPM in India" during 1999 there is a proposal
to conduct 4 Season Long Training courses in rice (1) groundnut (2) and chillies (1) to
train 160 additional master trainers. In the workplan for 1999 there is also proposal to
establish 210 "Village IPM Samities" to pursue community IPM approach on a
village scale.
National
Plan of Action on IPM:
5th January 1999, Recommendations -
ii)
Each State/UT should identify one Nodal Officer of the rank of Joint Director
Agriculture for proper planning and implementation of IPM activities in the State.
iii)
IPM packages developed at the National level should be fine-tuned by each State to
meet local needs.
vi)
Encouragement of production of sufficient quantity of bio-control
agents/bio-pesticides as a cottage industry should be given priority to facilitate
equipping such laboratories with adequate facilities.
xii) State
should allocate 50% budget earmarked for plant protection for expanding IPM activities in
the State.
xiv) Success
of IPM largely depends on Human Resource Development for improving the knowledge and skill
of farmers. Therefore, the pace of Human Resource development to train extension officers
and farmers should be given Top Priority.
xv) States
should ensure positioning all IPM trained personnel exclusively for the IPM activities.
xviii)
IPM in export oriented commodities like spices, fruits, vegetables, basmati rice,
organic cotton, etc. should be promoted and farmers adopting IPM for such crops should be
given National/State awards.
