The ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh organized a Brainstorming session on “Bioherbicides: Present status and way forward” on 7th October, 2021. In his inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Dr. SK Chaudhari, Deputy Director General (NRM), ICAR emphasised the importance of bioherbicides or natural products for weed management. Dr. Chaudhari stated that weeds are one of the major biotic stresses in sustaining the productivity of crops in general, and organic agriculture in particular. To cope with the rising demand from consumers, farmers are shifting from harmful chemical-dependent conventional agriculture to more sustainable and greener farm practices. Effective weed management is very important for large-scale adoption of organic farming, he added.

The Guest of Honour, Dr. S Bhaskar, Asstt. Director General (A,AF&CC), ICAR highlighted the importance of Organic farming, and said that the area under organic agriculture is increasing, and the Government has initiated number of programme slike Paramragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP), network project on Organic farming, etc. to promote the organic agriculture.

Earlier, in his introductory remarks, Dr. JS Mishra, Director, ICAR-DWR Jabalpur, presented the current status of bioherbicides and natural products developed and commercialized globally for weed management. More than 100 participants including eminent weed scientists, Director Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu, and representatives from biopesticide industries participated in the panel discussion.