ICAR-NBAIR, Bengaluru Organizes Training on “Climate-Smart Biocontrol Strategies for Management of Pests and Diseases in Coconut”

11–15 May 2026, Bengaluru

ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru organized a five-day training programme on “Climate-Smart Biocontrol Strategies for Management of Pests and Diseases in Coconut” from 11–15 May 2026 under the sponsorship of the Coconut Development Board.

The training programme was conducted for newly recruited Field Officers, Assistant Directors, and Deputy Directors (Development & Marketing) of Coconut Development Board (CDB), Kochi, Kerala; Subject Matter Specialists from ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra; Assistant Professors from Kerala Agricultural University; and Horticultural Officers from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. The programme aimed to disseminate climate-smart biocontrol technologies developed at the Bureau for managing emerging insect pests and diseases in coconut.

The training focused on diagnosis and identification of emerging pests such as invasive whiteflies, coconut black headed caterpillar, eriophyid mite, and slug caterpillar, along with their potential natural enemies. Hands-on training was imparted on mass production protocols for parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogens, including entomopathogenic fungi, bacteria, and nematodes for effective management of emerging pests in coconut ecosystems.

The programme also covered various augmentative and conservation strategies for biocontrol agents, along with biocontrol-compatible approaches, including behavioural methods for coconut pest management. In addition, training sessions focused on emerging diseases such as bud rot, root wilt, leaf blight, stem bleeding, and Tanjore wilt, along with their biocontrol management strategies. Vertebrate pest management in coconut plantations and nursery seedlings was also discussed during the programme.

Apart from crop protection practices, the trainees were sensitized on crop production practices including coconut-based multiple and integrated farming systems, conservation of pollinators in coconut ecosystems, and good agricultural practices for optimum utilization of pesticides, fertilizers, water, and other natural resources for eco-friendly agriculture. Demonstrations on the release of natural enemies and foliar application of entomopathogens using agri-drones in coconut ecosystems were also organized.

Dr T. Venkatesan, Director (Acting), ICAR-NBAIR, interacted with the trainees and highlighted the importance of biological control strategies for managing recent invasive insect pests through effective biocontrol agents. He urged the participants to disseminate these technologies among growers for sustainable management of emerging pests and diseases in coconut.

A total of about 30 trainees from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Tripura, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and one Union Territory participated in the programme. The resource persons included experts from ICAR-NBAIR, ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Dr. Y.S.R. Horticultural University, and National Institute of Plant Health Management.

The training programme was conducted as part of the project activities under the CDB-funded project titled “Generation of toxicological data for registration of Isaria fumosorosea in CIBRC and demonstration of biocontrol agents for management of Invasive Whiteflies in Coconut”.

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