A recent workshop on pest and disease modeling for crops was conducted for young scientists from various parts of India, by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and ICRISAT. The program included training on use of novel methods, data science and machine learning tools to predict pest and disease outbreaks for their timely management.

1. Newsletter
Happenings
In-house version 12 March 2021, No.1897
This work contributes to
UN Sustainable
Development Goals
Workshop
Creating a team of young scientists equipped with tech
tools to fight pests and diseases
Arecent workshop on pest and disease
modeling for crops was conducted for
young scientists from various parts of India, by
the University of Agricultural Sciences,
Bangalore, and ICRISAT. The program included
training on use of novel methods, data science
and machine learning tools to predict pest and
disease outbreaks for their timely
management.
Dr Prasanna Kumar, Coordinator of the training
program, said, “Simulation models have been
proven to be the most effective mathematical
and statistical tools that can help to design
management strategies for pests and diseases
in plants.”
Dr Mamta Sharma, Theme Leader, Integrated
Crop Management, ICRISAT, and Head of the
Center of Excellence in Climate Change Research for
Plant Protection, said, “Capacity-building activities for
young researchers are among our major objectives. This
way we equip them with the latest disease modeling
tools to keep us all prepared for the future.” She said
that the research at the Center of Excellence
contributed strategic knowledge for the national
program of climate change advisories for agriculture.
“Today the challenge is how early we can predict an
incidence of pest or disease in real time. Any delay
can result in significant damage for the farmer,” said
Prof Rajendra Prasad, Vice Chancellor, UAS, Bangalore.
He appreciated the fact that the trainees were from
various parts of the country – Tamil Nadu, Telangana,
Punjab etc.
Dr Arvind Kumar, Deputy Director General – Research,
ICRISAT, recommended the training course to the young
attendees, saying that it was a uniquely meaningful
training course that combined different streams of
research – from climate change, to plant diseases and
then to disease/outbreak predictions based on
modeling tools. He urged the participants to interact
with each other, exchange information and think of
practical applications of the learning.
Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Advisor and Head of Climate Change
at the Department of Science and Technology, said, “We
need to have academic institutions, that have rich
human resources, and research institutions, that have
strong R&D infrastructure, work together. That’s the way
we can create competencies in these areas across the
length and breadth of the country.”
“Significant crop losses occur due to pests and diseases
worldwide,” said Dr Nagaraj, Head, Department of Plant
Pathology, UAS, Bangalore. “Therefore, such training is
essential to prepare the next generation of scientists to
deal with future pest attacks and disease outbreaks
which may only increase with a changing climate.”
As the training program had a good blend of attendees
from several regions, it was a great opportunity for all to
learn and also to exchange information. Participants
were thankful to the training program for equipping
them with next-generation modelling tools for pest and
disease management.
This training program was supported by Climate Change
Program, Department of Science and Technology, Govt
of India; CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and
Dryland Cereals; ICAR-CAAST-NGT; the World Bank; and
ICRISAT.
For more on our work on pests and diseases, click here
A glimpse of the workshop at University of Agricultural Sciences,
Bangalore.
Photo: B Ramanagouda, ICRISAT