A two-day human resource development programme on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was organised by the Central Integrated Pest Management Centre (CIPMC), Gangtok, at Lingchom Community Hall under Kabi block, Mangan, on 19–20 August. The programme aimed at promoting sustainable organic farming practices by encouraging farmers to adopt non-chemical methods of pest control.
More than 55 progressive farmers and state agriculture officials participated in the training, which highlighted challenges in pest management under organic cultivation and the importance of adopting integrated pest management techniques to tackle insect pests, diseases, and nematodes. Local panchayat representatives also joined the sessions and stressed the need for wider outreach of IPM practices among farmers.
On the first day, Dr T N Deka, scientist-c, Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Spices Board, delivered a lecture on pest management in large cardamom. Dr Roshna Gazmer, deputy director, IPM Division, agriculture department, Sikkim government, spoke about non-chemical pest management techniques for ginger, cherry pepper, and soybean, and recommended bio-fungicidal seed treatment to combat plant diseases.
R Lepcha, APPO, discussed practical IPM methods such as seed treatment, pheromone traps, and sticky traps for field crops. Dr A Chakraborty, deputy director and head of office, CIPMC Gangtok, summed up the sessions, stressing the importance of calendar-based IPM strategies for cash crops.
The second day featured hands-on field training on pest surveillance, pest identification using the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) mobile app, and demonstrations of seed treatment. Farmers were encouraged to adopt indigenous and eco-friendly pest management strategies and to spread IPM practices within their communities. To aid their efforts, participants received pictorial reference booklets as ready reckoners for field use.