Department of Entomology Neri,Hamirpur (HP)

Dr Virender Rana
Professor and Head

The Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture and forestry was established in the year 2018 under Dr YSP University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni- Solan (HP) however the college of horticulture and forestry was established much earlier i.e. during the year 2011. In the beginning, there were 3 teacher in the Department namely Dr.Virender Rana, Dr. Sunil Kumar and Dr. Ajay Sharma. However, one teacher Dr. Vijay Singh Chandel was also added as guest faculty owing to the teaching requirements of the department. The M.Sc. programme was initialed in the department w.e.f. 2017 with 5 students. At present 30 students have been passed out M.Sc. programme from the Department. The Department is working on various aspects for quality theoretical and practical teaching for the last 7 years. Along with regular teacher, Department has also engaged 2 teachers on lecture basis depending upon the work load of UG and PG students. The department is engaged on academics, research and extension activities for all round development of students and for developing skills and knowledge of the farmers through extension and research activities. The department is mainly concentrated on, Apiculture, Sericulture, Economic entomology i.e. fruit and vegetable crops.

Apart from this different entrepreneurship module are also run by the department in Beekeeping and Sericulture. Maximum activities of the Department are concerned with the farmers of the State and Country.

Mandate

  • To strengthen academic, research and extension activities of the department for quality education and research of the students in UG and PG programmes.
  • To organize various programmes for the farmers of the state for enhancing their skills through technology for entrepreneurship development.

Strengths

  • Modern laboratory facilities for diagnosis of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases of horticultural/ forest crops through latest techniques based on molecular analysis, electron/ fluorescent microscopy, laboratory analysis, etc.
  • Commercial bioagents production unit for supplying of ready to use culture of Trichodermaviride(Trichovir) for reclamation of sick soils and management of soil borne disease in horticultural crops.
  • Spawn and mushroom production facilities on commercial scale.
  • Provision and procedures for testing of brand name/ new moleculeformulations for private and public sector Indian companies

Achievements

The Department offers degree programmes for M.Sc. Entomology.
  • I have guided 35 students and 10 students under guidance.
  • Twenty students joined services in Govt. and private organisation.

Research

Thrust Areas

  • Standardization of mass multiplication of potential bio-control agentsand botanical pesticides for developing integrated disease management strategies against important diseases.
  • Harar borer is the major pest of Harar in low and Shivalik hills of Himachal Pradesh.
  • The genus of this pest was got identified by the scientists of the Department for the first time in India.
  • From the studies of biology of pomegranate fruit borer, it is revealed that egg laying by the pomegranate butterfly initiated around the mid April.
  • Management of predatory wasp of honey bees and apple crop.
  • HP-HDP project on Pollination component sponsored by ADB.
  • Survey and surveillance of important Insect-pests of subtropical fruit crops in Himachal Pradesh sponsored by HP-SHIVA.
  • Biology and Eco-Friendly management of CABBAGE BUTTERFLY (Pieris brassicae L.)
  • Studies on seasonal incidence and management of litchi fruit Borer, Conopomorpha sinensis Bradley (Gracillariidai: Lepidoptera) in the low hills of Himachal Pradesh
  • Seasonal incidence and management of predatory wasps (Vespa spp., Hymenoptera: Vespidae ) attacking Apis mellifera L. colonies
  • Studies on seasonal incidence and Eco-friendly management of pea leaf miner Chromatomyia horticola Goureau infesting pea
  • Biology and Eco-Friendly management of Tomato fruit Borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner., (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In low hills of Himachal Pradesh
  • Survey and surveillance of emerging pests of litchi and their natural enemies.

Extension

  • Fruit fly traps have been developed by Department of entomology COHF Neri for the trapping and management of fruit fly on peach.
  • Front line demonstrations have been conducted to evaluated the effect of different fruit fly traps on fruit fly.

Achievements

  • Instrumental in developing fruit fly trap in the year 2003.
  • We have also develop wasp trap for the management of wasp against honey bees and apple plants
  • Introduced lac culture in the Neri campus first time in Himachal Pradesh.
  • Conducted Beekeeping and sericulture ELP modules for the last 7 years.

Awards/Recognitions

  • Lasura borer was first time recorded in HP.
  • Harar borer was recorded in HP.
  • Under my headship I emphasized on farmers’ and stakeholder problems and issues are given below:
    • Management of wasps against honey bees and apple plants.
    • Management fruit fly a major pest of subtropical area.
    • Seasonal incidence and management of major and key pests viz, fruit fly, anar butter fly Lasura borer and so on.
  • The department has organized more than 50 training programmes beekeeping.
  • Attend the training / awareness camps, kisan goshthis and farmers’ schools etc. organized by the college or state departments of Agriculture or Horticulture.

Facilities

The Department have created following facilities for the research and teaching of students at UG and PG Labs.
  • PCR
  • Gel doc
  • Deep freezer (-80°C)
  • Centrifuge Refrigerated Bench top etc.