Integrated Pest Management in Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) – Awareness and training program
IIRR Scientists conducted an awareness cum training program for DSR farmers in association with State Agriculture Department and Seva Spoorthi Foundation at Kurraram village, Rajapeta Mandal, Yadadri district on 3 July 2024. This village has approximately 100 acres of DSR, and 90% was sown by drum seeder. Dr B Sreedevi, Principal Scientist, Agronomy, ICAR-IIRR highlighted the importance of weed management in DSR and gave details about new herbicides that can be used in DSR. Dr D Ladhalakshmi, Scientist, Plant Pathology, ICAR-IIRR demonstrated the seed treatment with Trichoderma sp and briefed about seed-borne pathogens that can be managed effectively with seed treatment. Dr Ch. Padmavathi, Principal Scientist, Entomology, ICAR-IIRR informed the farmers about IPM practices to manage pests effectively. She explained about the use of pheromone traps for mass trapping yellow stem borer in rice. She also demonstrated the features of the “Mobile IPM App” developed by ICAR-IIRR after which some farmers downloaded the app. AO, Mrs Madhavi, AEO, Mr Anjaiah and 40 DSR farmers attended the meeting. Later all the officials visited the DSR fields and discussed the IPM practices to be followed in each field.
