NCEEA-2025 concludes with roadmap for sustainable farming innovations

Ramban, June 29: The three-day National Congress on Entomology and Emerging Agrotechnologies (NCEEA-2025) concluded on Sunday at the scenic alpine meadows of Sanasar, presenting a comprehensive roadmap to promote sustainable agriculture in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Held from June 27 to 29, the event brought together 115 delegates from across the country to deliberate on eco-friendly pest management, climate-resilient farming, and region-specific agrotechnologies. Organised by the Entomological Science Academy in collaboration with SKUAST Jammu and IIT Jammu, the conference focused on aligning agricultural research, education, and extension systems with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to boost innovation and employability.

In a virtual address, Poonam Jasrotia, ADG (Plant Protection & Biosafety), ICAR, New Delhi, emphasised the need for region-specific innovations to uplift hill agriculture. She highlighted the potential of indigenous crops like anardana, kasrod, kaladi, potatoes, and minor fruits, and called for improved pest surveillance, precision farming, and value-added processing to enhance productivity.

Participants at the congress outlined several key recommendations, including the promotion of biological control using local bioagents and the wider adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The integration of entomology with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, genomics, and biotechnology was strongly advocated. There were also calls for enhanced biotech research to develop stress-tolerant crops, support for renewable energy-driven Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), and tailored agrotech solutions for districts like Ramban.

The need for strengthening post-harvest value chains, tackling emerging threats like invasive species, and promoting agro-ecosystem conservation was also discussed. Participants suggested building collaborative platforms that connect farmers, scientists, and industries to support the next generation of agro-entrepreneurs.

Rakesh Kumar Gupta, President of the Entomological Science Academy, reaffirmed the academy’s commitment to sustainable and technology-driven agricultural development in Jammu and Kashmir and across India. He thanked the Vice Chancellor and officials of SKUAST Jammu for their institutional support.

Appreciation was also extended to Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mohd. Alyas Khan, for his presence and the support offered by the district administration. The organisers acknowledged PY Resorts, Sanasar, for their hospitality and logistical arrangements.

The congress concluded with a shared vision of transforming Indian agriculture through locally relevant innovations, policy-driven action, and inclusive collaboration.