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Centre Forms Expert Panel to Protect Bihar’s Litchi Crop from Pest

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has formed a special expert task force to address the damage to Bihar's litchi crop caused by the litchi stink bug. The task force, chaired by the Director of the National Research Centre on Litchi, will visit affected areas and submit a report within a week. It includes scientists and officials from various agricultural institutions and will recommend both immediate and long-term remedial measures. The initiative aims to provide timely relief to farmers and protect the crucial litchi crop.

Key Points: Centre sets up task force to save Bihar litchi crop

  • Union Minister sets up expert task force for litchi crop damage
  • Task force to submit report within a week
  • Focus on litchi stink bug infestation in Bihar
  • Panel includes scientists and officials from multiple institutions
3 min read

Centre forms expert panel to protect litchi crop in Bihar

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan forms an expert task force to assess litchi stink bug damage in Bihar and recommend remedial measures within a week.

"The task force will assess the current situation related to the litchi stink bug... and suggest both immediate and long-term measures to provide relief to farmers. - Official Order"

New Delhi, May 8

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan has set up a special expert task force to look into the damage caused to the litchi crop in Bihar and come up with a report on the remedial measures to help farmers within a week, according to an official statement issued on Friday.

Farmers informed the minister about the extensive damage being caused to litchi crops due to the litchi stink bug at an interaction programme organised at the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, on Thursday.

The special expert task force will visit the affected areas and submit a report along with recommendations for remedial measures, the statement said.

According to an order issued on May 7 by the National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, the task force will assess the current situation related to the litchi stink bug, visit affected regions, scientifically study crop losses, and suggest both immediate and long-term measures to provide relief to farmers.

The task force will also recommend necessary advisories and extension activities for farmers, besides suggesting interventions required at both the state and central levels.

As per the order, the expert task force has been constituted with scientists, officials and specialists from various institutions. The Director of the National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the panel.

According to the order, the task force will soon visit the most affected blocks in litchi-producing districts of Bihar and will submit its report to the Agriculture Minister within one week so that necessary action can be taken in a timely manner.

The members of the task force include representatives nominated by the Director of Horticulture-cum-Bihar State Horticulture Mission, representatives nominated by the Director of Plant Protection, Bihar Agriculture Department; a representative nominated by the entomologist of Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur; a representative nominated by the Principal Scientist (Entomology) of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur; and a representative nominated by the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

The panel also includes scientist Dr Jaipal Singh Chaudhary from the ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region and the Centre for Agricultural Systems Research for Hill and Plateau Region, Ranchi; Dr M Sampat Kumar from the National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru; scientist (Entomology) Dr Ipsita Samal from the ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur; and Principal Scientist (Entomology) Dr Vinod Kumar, who will serve as the member secretary of the task force.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good initiative, but I hope this doesn't become just another meeting that ends with no action. The week-long deadline is encouraging though. Let's see if they actually visit the fields or just sit in Lucknow and write reports. 😕
V
Vikram M
As someone from Bihar, this is great news. Litchi is not just a fruit here, it's our identity! Shahi litchi from Muzaffarpur is world-famous. We need both immediate pesticide solutions and long-term biological pest control. Glad experts from ICAR and agricultural universities are involved. 👏
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the government addressing specific crop issues at a local level. In the US, we have similar task forces for citrus greening and other pests. Hope India's approach with multiple institutions collaborating yields quick results for the farmers.
R
Rohit P
One week is a very tight timeline for a scientific study. Are they just going to estimate losses or actually recommend measures? Stink bug management requires a comprehensive approach. Hope they don't rush and give a half-baked report.
K
Kavya N
My family in Bihar's litchi belt is really worried this season. Last year they lost almost 40% of their crop. This task force is a step in the right direction, but they also need to ensure farmers get compensation for this year's losses. 🤞
J

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