The series of training programs on "Plant Protection" has equipped 115 local farmers with new skills to protect their harvests. The workshops, focused on “Identification and Management of Vegetable and Fruit Diseases and Pests,” were held in three different locations within Ichhakamana Rural Municipality. Farmers from five local communities attended the sessions. The training was led by agricultural expert Mr. Bidhan Tiwari, the Technical Coordinator of SVSI. The program taught farmers how to recognize some of the most common and destructive problems affecting their crops. These included diseases like late blight in potatoes and tomatoes, anthracnose, and powdery mildew. Farmers also learned about harmful pests such as fruit flies, stem borers, and white grubs.
Farmers learned practical solutions yellow sticky traps for pests and pheromone traps for borers, along with field visits to identify infected plants and apply early control methods. However, challenges such as the limited availability of bio-control inputs and traps in local markets were raised. The training concluded with a call for follow-up support, refresher sessions, and the promotion of farmer-led monitoring groups to ensure sustainable adoption of integrated pest and disease management practices.
