Four day Asia Pacific workshop on Empowering Farmers through Integrated Pest Management Farmers Field School (IPM FFS) in Support of Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production in the context of Climate Change kicked off in Kathmandu.

Inaugurating the workshop, Radhika Tamang, Minister of State for Agricultural Development, said that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) through Farmers Field School (FFS) has been a significant contributor in improving public and environmental health and creating awareness in the continuation of all biological entities in the communities. 

Reaffirming the commitment of Nepal in international conventions like FAO Code of Conduct on the distribution and use of pesticides, Rotterdam Convention, Stockholm Convention and Basel Convention, Minister of State Tamang expressed the confidence that biological control will gain momentum towards achieving a sustainable and feasible approach to replace chemical pesticides. 

Dr Somsak Pipoppinyo, FAO Representative in Nepal and Bhutan, said that FAO support to the IPM program significantly contributed in the areas of human resource development, mainstreaming and institutionalization of IPM and FFS program in the country.

Dr Piao Yongfan, Senior Plant Protection Office of FAO Asia Pacific Region Office at Bangkok, said that FFS has been a successful approach to enhance the skill and capacity of the farming community.

Speaking from the chair, Dr Suroj Pokhrel, Secretary of Ministry of Agricultural development, hoped that the workshop will be successful to find a way-out to address the emerging challenge like climate change and conservation of pollinators. He said that the IPM tool has been successfully adopted in the government extension and education system.

Dila Ram Bhandari, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Dr Dilli Ram Sharma, Director of Plant Protection Directorate extended their best wishes for successful completion of the workshop.

29 experts from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam are participating in the workshop.

Experts from the participating countries are scheduled to make presentations on IPM-FFS and empowerment work in support of Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production in the context of Climate Change, showcasing relevant IPM-FFS work on Climate Change mitigation and adaptation and submission of a country paper on the updated status of IPM in the workshop.