Jun 17, 2023
“I had discovered an insect nest in my farm that caused me sleepless nights. I learned from our trainer that the insect was in fact beneficial and should be preserved on my farm. This revelation surprised me, as I had believed all insects had a negative impact without considering their potential benefits. Grateful for this new understanding." - Gayatri Nepal, a fellow farmer.
The second part of the two-day training conducted on 14 and 15 June 2023 for 26 farmers at Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchok also revealed that many farmers were encountering significant obstacles in identifying and managing pests, causing financial losses, and reduction in crop yield and quality. Pests such as Tuta absoluta, white flies, aphids, leaf minors, and fruit borers were identified in most of the tomatoes cultivated by the farmers. Blight, damping off, and root-knot nematodes were some of the diseases observed by the farmers as they visited nearby farms. Similarly, in cucurbits, major insect pests observed were white flies, fruit flies (larva and adult), red pumpkin beetle, bugs, hoppers, and diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew.
With this in-depth training, farmers now have the required knowledge and skills to manage pests and diseases effectively, leading to increased crop yield, reduced use of pesticides, improved food safety, increased income, and sustainable farming practices.
PIWAAI supports farmers in their efforts to improve their livelihoods and promote sustainable agriculture!
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