Plant Protection Training

Human resource development is widely regarded as the single most important resource for speedier popularisation of latest technological developments in plant protection among the farmers. Training in plant protection gets wide support because of its critical role in human resource development. Formal training is needed to upgrade the professional competence of extension functionaries as training has a significant impact on the knowledge, ability and attitude of staff. India faces a gigantic task of training plant protection extension functionaries in vast numbers at different levels with varying educational background and the large number of farmers. Substantial investment has been made and continues to be made to meet these needs. An extensive infrastructure has been set up and impressive achievements have been made in training extension functionaries at all levels as well as farmers. The National Plant Protection Training Institute (NPPTI), Hyderabad and the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, Faridabad are playing a leading role in training extension functionaries at national level. The National Plant Protection Training Institute, Hyderabad provides the state of the art technical know how on plant protection, the best that modern plant protection science has to offer. The institute has been recognised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of United Nations (UN). As research institutes, All India Coordinated Research Projects and National Research Centres of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Extension Education Institutes, and the Directorate of Extension of Ministry of Agril., the State Agricultural Universities, State Training Institutes, Extension Training Centres, Gram Sevak Training Centres, Farmers Training Centres, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Trainers Training Centres etc., provide training in plant protection to extension functionaries and the farmers. As a result the quantitative achievements with respect to number of training courses organized and number of persons trained have been quite good. However, there is a need for qualitative improvement of training being imparted through systematic and pragmatic approach. Greater thrust is necessary on training in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in crops, pest risk analysis, retrieval and exchange of pest management information and utilization of computers etc. Further, there is a need for training of women, rural youth and weaker sections of rural society. The active participation of Non-Governmental Organisations could contribute significantly in popularising eco-friendly plant protection practices among farmers. The electronic and print medianeed to be fully utilized for this purpose. Training faculties of institutions also require development by way of their training in specialised areas in other national and international institutions of repute. Farmers plant protection needs for increased crop productivity and production must get highest priority in training. No training intervention will ever have the desired result without whole hearted commitment of all concerned. It is obligatory that the organization, trainers and trainees review and renew their commitment to training as this is an essential condition to make training work better to meet emerging challenges in plant protection.