The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) organized two training programmes on “Mites of agri-horticultural crops and their integrated management” for tribal farmers in remote areas of district Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, on October 26 and 27. A total of 100 farmers attended these training programmes which were conducted in collaboration with Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, and Mountain Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Sangla, district Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh.

Dr Pardeep Kumar Chhuneja, Head, Department of Entomology, PAU, informed that the training programmes were organized under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) programme of ICAR funded All India Network Project (AINP) on Agricultural Acarology.

Dr Manmeet Brar Bhullar, Senior Acarologist and Principal Investigator of the scheme, along with Dr Paramjit Kaur, Assistant Acarologist, shed light on identification, bio-ecology and Integrated Pest Management of mites in horticultural crops. Farmers of villages Leo and Sangla in district Kinnaur and Panchayat heads and members of both the villages participated in training programmes. Trainee farmers were distributed ‘pruning cutters’ and ‘hand lens’ along with a bulletin on ‘Mites of agri-horticultural crops and their integrated management.’