Arunachal: Safe and Judicious Pesticide Use & Eco-Friendly Pest Management Awareness Drive Held in East Siang
The programme aimed to sensitize farmers about the health and environmental impacts of indiscriminate chemical pesticide use while promoting Good Agricultural Practices..........
PASIGHAT– In a significant initiative to promote sustainable agriculture and farmer safety, HIL (India) Limited and KEC Agritech, in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) East Siang, organized a farmer awareness programme today on the safe and judicious use of pesticides, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and eco-friendly crop protection practices.
The programme aimed to sensitize farmers about the health and environmental impacts of indiscriminate chemical pesticide use while promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), natural farming, and Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) to reduce dependence on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs).
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Attending as Chief Guest, Prof. A. Herojit Singh, Dean, College of Horticulture and Forestry, emphasized the importance of correct pesticide usage to ensure food safety, environmental protection, and sustainable farming.
He highlighted the often-overlooked aspect of the waiting period after pesticide application, noting that ignoring it leads to food safety concerns and even export rejections. “Awareness at the grassroots level is the key to bringing meaningful change,” he said.
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The event featured expert sessions by Dr. P. Raja, Dr. R. C. Shakywar, Dr. Th. Eloni Vida, Dr. Ajaykumara K. M, Dr. Navya Bhat, and Dr. Milind B. Katare, who spoke on:
- Eco-friendly crop protection & natural farming practices
- IPM techniques in the NEH region
- Pesticide safety and its effects on health & nutrition
- GAP for horticultural crops
- IFS models linking fishery, livestock, agriculture & horticulture for sustainable livelihoods
Over 147 farmers actively participated in the programme, engaging in discussions and sharing field-level experiences. A video presentation on pesticide safety precautions and a safety kit demonstration by Mr. Sankar Chatterjee (HIL) and Mr. Ashok Kumar Jarwal (KEC Agritech Pvt. Ltd., Delhi) added practical insights to the sessions.
To reinforce safe practices, protective gear kits were distributed to all participating farmers.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, reflecting the farmers’ keen interest in adopting safer, eco-friendly, and more sustainable agricultural practices.
