Training prog for tribals focuses on safe use of pesticides | Mysuru News
Mysuru: Vice chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, SV Suresha said that climate change poses challenges to agricultural practices, necessitating new crop varieties and technologies, which the university is addressing through many projects.Speaking during a Field Day hosted by the varsity with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, and the Skill Development Centre (SDC), UAS Bangalore, under the Tribal Sub-Plan at Basavanagiri Haadi and Sollepura in HD Kote taluk, he emphasised the importance of the safe usage of pesticides, saying they can contaminate natural resources and leave harmful residues behind. The VC added, “Given that many of these tribal farmers are first-generation agriculturists with less than a decade of experience, the training served as an essential primer on both current challenges and sustainable practices.“Over 100 tribal farmers in the two villages set an example in safe and climate-smart sustainable agriculture, which was displayed during the event on Tuesday. The initiative forms part of the project that focuses on the safe use of pesticides for the healthy livelihood of tribal farmers.Intensive training The selected farmers participated in a 5-day intensive programme at the Farmers’ Training Institute (FTI), UAS Bangalore, before returning to their villages to implement the techniques. Each participant received agricultural inputs, including cotton and sorghum seeds, fertilisers, pesticide sprayers, tarpaulins, bio-fungicides, and personal protective gear for spraying.
