Safer Crops, Stronger Farmers: ICAR-NBAIR Celebrates 34 Years

Bengaluru: ICAR–National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR) marked its 34th Foundation Day at its Yelahanka campus in Bengaluru, with a focus on biological control and sustainable pest management.

Dr N. K. Krishna Kumar, Former Deputy Director General (Horticulture) and Former Director, ICAR-NBAIR, was the Chief Guest. Dr T. Venkatesan, Director, ICAR-NBAIR, welcomed the gathering and outlined the Bureau’s achievements, technological advances and continued commitment to farmer-friendly biocontrol technologies.

In his Foundation Day address, Dr Krishna Kumar highlighted the role of sustainable agriculture and biological control in producing safe, high-quality produce that meets international market standards and consumer expectations. He called for reduced reliance on chemical pesticides and wider adoption of biocontrol-based crop protection, helping to address pesticide residue concerns and lower the risk of produce rejection in domestic and export markets.

Former Directors Dr Chandish R. Ballal and Dr Abraham Verghese, along with retired senior staff of the Bureau, also joined the celebration.

Farmer outreach under DAPSC

The event included the release of publications and the distribution of agricultural and biocontrol inputs to farmers under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC). In all, 100 farmers from Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts of Karnataka took part. An exhibition showcased NBAIR’s biocontrol technologies and agricultural products, while an interactive session gave farmers the opportunity to exchange knowledge on sustainable pest management practices.

The celebration reaffirmed NBAIR’s commitment to advancing biological control, strengthening farmer outreach and promoting environmentally sustainable crop protection, for safe agricultural production and better farmer livelihoods.

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