ICAR-NRC on Litchi, Muzaffarpur Intensifies Capacity Building and Field Awareness for Management of Litchi Stink Bug

18 August 2026, Muzaffarpur, Bihar

The ICAR–National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, has intensified its capacity-building and field-awareness efforts for the management of litchi stink bug, a major insect pest that has emerged as a serious threat to litchi production in several growing clusters, particularly in Bihar and Jharkhand.

The initiative has been undertaken based on the recommendations of the Litchi Stink Bug Task Force, constituted under the directions of the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. ICAR-NRCL is implementing the programme in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture, Government of Bihar, and ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Patna, with a focus on strengthening coordinated pest-management efforts involving research institutions, extension agencies and farming communities.

The participants included Subject Matter Specialists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), District Horticulture Officers, Block Horticulture Officers, Assistant Directors of Plant Protection, Agriculture Coordinators, Assistant Technology Managers (ATMs) and Block Technology Managers (BTMs), particularly from Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, East Champaran and West Champaran districts.

The training focused on the identification and biology of litchi stink bug, seasonal population dynamics, identification of non-litchi host plants and aggregation sites, off-season pest surveillance, and timely adoption of integrated management practices. Emphasis was placed on initiating pest-management interventions well before flowering and fruiting to suppress pest populations before they reach economically damaging levels.

To facilitate the translation of technical knowledge into field-level action, ICAR-NRCL has also initiated a series of field days and awareness programmes in severely affected litchi-growing clusters. The first field day was organised at Bochaha Block of Muzaffarpur district in collaboration with the concerned KVK and the Department of Horticulture, Government of Bihar.

During the field day, farmers and field-level extension personnel were sensitized to the identification of potential pest aggregation sites and measures for reducing the carry-over population of litchi stink bug before the forthcoming litchi season.

Similar field programmes have been planned in other affected litchi-growing clusters of Bihar. These programmes will be conducted directly at farmers’ fields to strengthen farmer–extension–research linkages and facilitate timely adoption of recommended pest-management practices.

Through this coordinated initiative, ICAR-NRCL aims to establish a strong network of trained extension personnel and enhance awareness among litchi growers, enabling community-level and area-wide management of litchi stink bug. The initiative is expected to contribute to reducing crop losses and strengthening sustainable litchi production in the major litchi-growing regions of the country.

As part of the initiative, two two-day capacity-building programmes have been organised for extension personnel from major litchi-growing districts of Bihar. A total of 68 participants were trained, comprising 30 participants during the first programme held on 10–11 August 2026 and 38 participants during the second programme held on 17–18 August 2026.

(Source: ICAR–National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur)