Shillong, May 28: South West Garo Hills farmers were told to ditch heavy pesticide use as the Horticulture Department pushed eco-friendly pest control at Ajonggre village.
On Tuesday training on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) under the Vegetable Development Scheme 2025-2026 saw local growers learn how to spot common vegetable pests and tackle them with biological, cultural and mechanical methods, not just chemicals.
Resource persons stressed that excessive pesticide use harms soil, health and yields. The IPM approach combines natural predators, crop rotation, traps and limited chemical sprays to keep pests down while protecting the environment.
The session, organised by the District Horticulture Officer, under Betasing block, drew participation from scheme beneficiaries who flagged real field problems in vegetable farming.
