Shivraj Singh Chauhan calls upon scientists to promote effective bio-control means of pest management

Expressing concern over the indiscriminate use of pesticides, which is resulting in environmental pollution and affecting soil health, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, on Friday called upon scientists to promote effective bio-control means of pest management.

The Minister, who visited the ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (ICAR–NBAIR) in Bengaluru, emphasised the concept of ‘live and let live’ in the management of insect pests through such bio-control means.

The Minister, who visited the National Insect Museum and Live Insect Repository at the NBAIR, promised the scientists of backing them in their efforts to promote biocontrol measures.

He suggested to the scientists to use effective parasitoids (an insect whose larvae live as parasites on single hosts and eventually kill their hosts), predators and entomopathogens (microorganisms that can cause disease in insects) for the management of insect pests, to reduce the environmental pollution, and to improve soil health.

He expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of pesticides and the management of emerging pests, such as the pink bollworm in Bt cotton. He commended the institute’s contribution to sustainable pest management through biological control approaches.

The Minister also interacted with scientists, students, farmers and entrepreneurs on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, S.N. Sushil, Director, ICAR-NBAIR, noted that the Bureau’s National Insect Museum, designated as the National Repository under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, preserves over 4.1 lakh insect specimens. The Institute also has India’s richest live insect repository, maintaining 137 species/strains, supporting biological control labs and academic institutions, he said.