Govt establishes new Central Pest Management Centre in Varanasi

NEW DELHI: The government has expanded the country’s agricultural pest management infrastructure, with the Union agriculture ministry establishing a new Central Integrated Pest Management Centre (CIPMC) in Varanasi this month.The country’s 35th such facility will contribute to pest surveillance and monitoring, production and release of biocontrol agents/biopesticides, conservation of biocontrol agents, and extending support to farmers in identifying and managing pest threats.“This office (CIPMC, Varanasi) shall work under the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage, Faridabad ... The above office will perform activities as per the mandate and objectives of Integrated Pest Management-cum-Locust Division, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage,” said a recent gazette notification announcing the establishment of the new centre in eastern Uttar Pradesh.CIPMCs support farmers in getting higher farm profitability by reducing expenditure on pesticides; ensure food safety through lower pesticide residues; and promote environmental sustainability by conserving beneficial insects, pollinators, soil biodiversity and climate-resilient agriculture.These centres also detect outbreaks early, reducing crop losses, and reduce health risks, environmental pollution, and pesticide residues in food.Besides Varanasi and Faridabad, the CIPMCs are located in Hyderabad, Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi, Indore, Dehradun, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Trichy, Solan, Jammu, Bengaluru and other cities across the country.