Ganjam District Collector and several government officials congratulate MSSRF on using innovative methods to tackling pest, disease and nutrition problems

The School Education Department had organised district level Agriculture Science Exhibition at Queen Mission High School premises in Berhampur, Ganjam district, Odisha on November 11 and 12, 2022. 40 school students and teachers from different parts of the district participated in the exhibition. A MSSRF Plant Clinic exhibition stall was set up to demonstrate various models and posters of processes and functional aspects of plant clinics. Plant Clinic is an example of an innovative agriculture extension method to help farmers.

There were also demonstrations of different organic pesticide preparations using technical and natural management practices, bird nesting , light trap, granding snail, neem oil, pot manure  Aloe Vera  juice, custard plant turmeric liquid pesticides, trichoderma viride, marigold flower plant, lemon grass plant, etc.

Rabindra Behera, Development Associate with MSSRF, explained and demonstrated to the visitors. The District collector – Mr Debiyajyoti Parida, Superintended of Police – Mr Dr Savana Viveka M, the District Education Officer and other district level officials visited the plant clinic stall and appreciated the innovative approach followed by the MSSRF to address the pest, disease and nutrition problems of the farmers.

Student inspired by plant clinic activities

A Standard VII student – Ms Sriya B from V V Giri Government Secondary Women Training School in Berhampur, was inspired after seeing the stall activities and wanted to be involved in the plant clinic stall demonstration. She picked up the concept and method of demonstration on the spot, and began demonstrating the deno light microscope pest-identification diagnose  technology, yellow sticky trap, feroman trap, straw  ghost, different types of infestation in plant samples, etc. Everyone appreciated her involvement and motivation, and she also received a prize for the district collector.

Rabindra Behera explains that the Resilience project implemented with the support of the Norwegian Embassy in partnership with Odisha University of Agricultural Technology (OUAT) has helped to build resilience among the farmers so that they can overcome the challenges they face resulting from climate change.