30% of food grown lost due to pests

Thirty per cent of food grown is lost due to pests, and although the use of chemical pesticides is the most effective method for pest control, it also causes ecological imbalance and health problems.

This was said by N. Tekatushi Ao, Jt. Dir. (Agri) & PD, ATMA Mokokchung at the inaugural programme of refresher’s training on IPM and rodent control for agricultural field functionaries of Mokokchung district organised from August 8–9 by the department of agriculture at the state agricultural research station (SARS), Yisemyong.

In this context he said, Integrated Pest Management is the most ideal approach for pest control which advocates the use of chemical only as a last resort.

He mentioned that the outbreak of rodents in the district in 2010 which was controlled by the timely intervention of the department can resurge if proper preventive measure were not taken at the field level and therefore the two-day training for field functionaries was the right step towards assisting the farmers in containing the pests and rodents in the field.

The inaugural programme was chaired by Lanunochela, SMS and altogether 26 field functionaries are attending the training.

The master trainer for the training is K. Remphamo, Lotha, SDAO, Tizit, and the other supporting resource persons Temsuinla, training officer; Supongmar, JPB, Maongsangla, AO-II and Onglutsuba, Jamir, AO-II respectively.