BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 2nd January 2026: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based, sustainable, eco-friendly approach to manage the pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and need based chemical methods, prioritizing non-chemical tactics and using pesticides only as a last resort, to keep pest populations below damaging levels with minimal risk to people and the environment. The main aim of IPM is to manage pest populations and damage through the most economical means while minimizing risks to human health and the environment.
Demonstration cum Training Programme on Integrated Pest Management in Paddy was organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sepahijala, CAU (I), Tripura on 30th December, 2025 at Chesrimai GP, Charilam block, Sepahijala Tripura in collaboration with ICAR- NRIIPM, New Delhi. The objective of the programme was to encourage farmers to adopt scientific paddy cultivation practices and eco-friendly pest management methods, thereby reducing the use of chemical pesticides.
The programme was conducted under the guidance of Dr Anupam Mishra, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, CAU, Imphal and under the technical guidance of Dr. Raman Thangavelu, Director, ICAR- NRIIPM, New Delhi; Dr. Ph. Ranjit Sharma, Director, Directorate of Extension Education, CAU, Imphal; Dr. A. K. Mohanty, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Zone VII, Umiam, Meghalaya; Prof A. B. Patel, Dean, College of Fisheries, CAU(I), Lembucherra, Tripura; Prof. Shravan M. Haldhar, Principal Scientist, ICAR- NRIIPM, New Delhi and Dr. Shatabhisa Sarkar, Senior Scientist & Head, KVK, Sepahijala, Tripura.
The programme was inaugurated by Khela Bhowmik Nath, Chairman, Charilam R.D Block; Radhaballab Debnath, Vice-Chairman, Charilam R.D Block; Biswajit Das, VLW, Chesrimai in the presence of Dr Utpal Dey, SMS (Plant Protection), KVK, Sepahijala; Sanjay Debnath, Steno, KVK, Sepahijala; Bharat Sharma, Project Assistant and others.
Khela Bhowmik Nath, Chairman, Charilam R.D. Block, Sepahijala, Tripura, emphasized the importance of integrated pest management and its implementation in farmers’ fields to reduce pesticide load. She also encouraged the farmers to adopt integrated pest management approaches to promote chemical-free sustainable crop production.n.
Radhaballb Debnath, Vice-Chairman of Charilam R.D. Block, Sepahijala, Tripura, highlighted the serious health issues arising from the overuse of chemical pesticides and emphasized the importance of adopting chemical-free farming practices to produce quality and healthy food
Dr. Utpal Dey, SMS (Plant Protection), KVK–Sepahijala, provided valuable insights on eco-friendly crop protection practices, highlighting seed treatment with biocontrol agents and the use of neem cake, vermiwash, cow urine, neem leaf extract, pheromone traps, light trap, and installation of bird perches for sustainable pest and disease management. Dr Dey also highlighted the advantages of adopting Integrated Pest Management approaches, emphasizing their effectiveness, sustainability, and reduced environmental impact. A practical demonstration on seed treatment using biocontrol agents was also conducted during the demonstration-cum-training programme to facilitate better understanding among the farmers. The program was coordinated by Dr Utpal Dey, SMS (Plant Protection), KVK, Sepahijala.
