KATHMANDU, JAN 08 - With an objective of maximising agriculture output through an effective use of pesticides, the government has instutionalised Integrated Pest Management Program (IPMP) and is working for its effective implementation soon throughout the country.
Talking to The Kathmandu Post, Ganesh KC, Program Director at the Plant Protection Directorate (PPD), said that the government has set up mechanism for the effective implementation of IPMP; further informing that the program would come into enforcement as soon as possible.
This is the first time that the IPMP has been instutionalised by the government since the introduction of program in year 1997. In this regard, the government has already signed an agreement with Norway, which agrees a grant of financial assistance of about Rs 99 million to the government for a period of three years.
"More programs, including training to farmers and setting up technology transfer mechanism throughout the country, would be carried out at the field-level under the new IPMP", said KC, highlighting the significance of the IPMP in a new context.
He also informed The Kathmandu Post that priority zones for the implementation of the IPMP would be western and mid-western regions as these parts of the country are comparatively lower in agro-productivity in comparison to the eastern region.
The IPMP, in the meantime, would also support to raise awareness among farmers on the effective and appropriate use of pesticides.
"Many farmers are unaware of the adverse impact that our environment would face due to maximum use of pesticides. Therefore, one objective of the IPMP is to aware the farmers on the impact made by the maximum use of pesticides," he added.
Despite launching the IPMP back in 1997, it has never come with expected outcomes due mainly to the lack of internal resources. Now, with financial assistance coming from Norway, KC hopes that the IPMP would get effective implementation. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) would be assisting the IPMP technically.
One major aim of the IPMP is to empower farmers to increase production and productivity efficiently while protecting environment, conserving the bio-diversity and avoiding health hazards for betterment of their livelihood, KC added.Posted on: 2004-01-09 03:35

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