Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Reviews ICAR–NBAIR in Bengaluru

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, visited the ICAR–National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru. During his visit, he toured the National Insect Museum and the Live Insect Repository, and observed the Bureau’s technologies on biological pest control.

Shri Chouhan interacted with scientists, students, staff, farmers, and entrepreneurs. He appreciated the institute’s significant contributions to sustainable pest management through biological control approaches and emphasized the need to accelerate the development of farmer-friendly technologies, ensuring their effective dissemination to the farming community, especially smallholders.

Expressing concern over the indiscriminate use of pesticides and the management of emerging pests such as pink bollworm in Bt cotton, the Minister urged adoption of parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogens for eco-friendly pest management. He stressed that such approaches would reduce environmental pollution, improve soil health, and promote the philosophy of “live and let live” in pest management. He also assured his full support for the promotion of biocontrol-based pest management.

The visit was also graced by the presence of Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour & Employment; Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta, Deputy Director General (Animal Sciences), ICAR; and Dr. T. K. Behera, Director, ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru.

Welcoming the Minister, Dr. S. N. Sushil, Director, ICAR–NBAIR, highlighted that ICAR–NBAIR is a premier institute dedicated to eco-friendly pest management and the conservation of beneficial insect biodiversity. He further emphasised the institute’s research in frontier areas such as genome editing, RNAi, nanotechnology, and biosensors to develop globally competitive, pesticide-free technologies.

The Bureau houses the National Insect Museum, designated as the National Repository under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and preserves over 4.1 lakh insect specimens. It also maintains India’s richest Live Insect Repository, with 137 species/strains of live insects supporting biological control laboratories and academic institutions. In addition, the Bureau holds 1,101 strains/species of entomopathogens including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes that play a vital role in biological pest control.

Over the last three decades, the Bureau has developed 53 technologies, licensed to 126 companies, significantly contributing to Atma Nirbhar Bharat by reducing dependence on chemical pesticides.

ICAR–NBAIR has played a crucial role in combating invasive pests like Papaya Mealybug, Eucalyptus Gall Wasp, Tomato Pinworm, Fall Armyworm, Rugose Spiralling Whitefly on coconut, and Cassava Mealybug through classical biological control. Its outreach programmes under SCSP, TSP, and NEH schemes, along with KVK demonstrations, have covered 2.5 lakh hectares in the past decade. The Bureau also collaborates with leading national and international institutions, including FAO, CABI, IISc, and ICAR-IARI, and contributes to human resource development by hosting MSc/PhD scholars and conducting training programmes for farmers, scientists, NGOs, and defense personnel.

The event was attended by all scientists, officers, staff, and scholars of ICAR–NBAIR, who showcased their research to the Minister.

(Source: ICAR–National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru)