The three-day National Congress on Entomology and Emerging Agrotechnologies (NCEEA-2025), which saw participation from 115 delegates across the country, concluded on Sunday at the scenic alpine meadows of Sanasar with a strong set of recommendations to transform Indian agriculture through sustainable practices for Viksit Bharat. Held from June 27–29, the conference brought together experts to discuss 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 event emphasised aligning agricultural education, research and extension with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to foster innovation and employability.

In a special virtual address, Poonam Jasrotia, ADG (Plant Protection & Biosafety), ICAR, New Delhi, highlighted the need for region-specific technologies to enhance hill agriculture, particularly for indigenous crops such as anardana, kasrod, kaladi, potatoes and minor fruits. She stressed the importance of advanced pest surveillance, precision farming and value-added processing to boost productivity.

The conference outlined several key recommendations, including the promotion of biological control using local bioagents and the mainstreaming of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It advocated the integration of entomology with cutting-edge technologies such as AI, genomics and biotechnology. Participants called for stronger biotech research to develop stress-tolerant crops, the integration of renewable energy with Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and enhanced agrotech support for Ramban’s unique crops.

Emphasis was also placed on developing robust post-harvest value chains, researching emerging threats such as invasive species and fostering agro-ecosystem conservation. Collaborative platforms linking farmers, scientists and industries were proposed to nurture future-ready agro-entrepreneurs.

Rakesh Kumar Gupta, President of the Entomological Science Academy, reaffirmed the society’s commitment to sustainable and technology-driven agricultural growth in J&K and beyond. The academy expressed gratitude to SKUAST Jammu’s Vice Chancellor and university officials for their support in organising the event. Special appreciation was extended to Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mohd. Alyas Khan for his gracious presence and the support provided by the district administration. The organizers also thanked PY Resorts, Sanasar for logistic support and outstanding arrangements.