Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh visited ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru, on 2nd April 2015. He inaugurated 'Insect Gallery and Exhibition Centre' and visited 'Insectarium', which is opened for farmers to know about destructive and useful insects, besides 'Insect Museum', which houses insects collected for last 50 years. He also released a folder on Tuta absoluta, a new invasive pest to tomato and many other crops in India.
Union Minster for Agriculture Appriciated ICAR-NBAIR
During his address, he stressed that each of the ICAR, State Agricultural University and KVKs should adopt one village, which should be supported by a group of scientists to uplift farming community and learn from farmers about problem prevailing in their farms. He also urged Vice-Chancellors of Agricultural, Horticultural and Veterinary & Fisheries Universities to introduce a short term course where students adopt a farmers and this should become important part of their curriculum.
Agriculture Minister elaborated on some of the recent schemes such as 'Soil Health Card', ‘Krishi Dak’ and 'Mera Gaon, Mera Gaurav'.
He also urged that 'Traditional Farming' and 'Jaivik Kheti' may be implemented in phased manner, to start with 50 acres and 50 farmers at district level.
Dr Abraham Verghese, Director, ICAR- NBAIR briefed about the recent achievements of the Institute.
Directors / Joint Directors / Heads of Bangalore based ICAR institutes; Vice-Chancellors of Agriculture, Horticulture and Veterinary & Fisheries Universities; Directors of Central and State Agriculture, Horticulture and Fisheries
Departments; Incharges of KVKs and scientists and staff of NBAIR participated in the event.
(Source: ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru)