ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR), Bengaluru, organized a Tribal
Sub-Plan (TSP) programme at the State Horticultural Farm premises, Karumandurai on 29
December 2025, in collaboration with the Tapioca and Castor Research Station (TCRS), Yethapur.
The programme began with a welcome address delivered by Dr. Venkatachalam, Professor and
Head, TCRS, Yethapur. Dr. S. N. Sushil, Director, ICAR-NBAIR, participated as the Chief Guest
and distributed agro-inputs such as cassava booster, castor seeds (cv. YTP-1), bioagents including
Trichoderma viridae and Bacillus subtilis, and assorted vegetable seed packets to fifty tribal farmers to
support and uplift their livelihoods. In his address, Dr. Sushil emphasized the importance of using
biopesticides and adopting eco-friendly pest management practices to minimize pest and disease
incidence. He also encouraged farmers to participate in training programmes organized by ICARNBAIR. Dr. G. Sivakumar, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NBAIR, and Principal Investigator, AICRPBiological Control, briefed the farmers on the importance of biopesticides and the benefits of
organic vegetable cultivation. Dr. M. Sampath Kumar, Senior Scientist, ICAR-NBAIR, highlighted
the role of macrobials in pest management and explained the successful classical biological control
of the cassava mealybug using the imported parasitoid, Anagyrus lopezi. Drs. Jayaprabhavathi,
Velmurugan, and Natarajan from TCRS, delivered technical lectures on enhancing cassava/castor
productivity through the selection of suitable cultivars, nutrient management, and integrated pest
and disease management practices. A total of fifty tribal farmers from the villages of Rakkodu,
Maniyarkundam, Vengayakurichi, Chinnakalrayanmalai, Kovil Kadu, Pudhur, Pakadupattu &
Vadaku Nadu attended and benefitted from the programme.
The TSP programme received wide coverage in local magazines as well as television channels.
https://www.nbair.res.in/sites/default/files/2025-12/TSP%20FINAL_0.pdf
