Agricultural Entomology

Initially Agricultural Entomology and Plant Pathology were taught under the Department of Agriculture, Palli Siksha Sadana since 1965 and became a separate Department of Plant Protection within the Institute of Agriculture in 1989 by amalgamation of these two major subjects. Since its inception, the Department is actively involved in teaching, intensive research on pest management methods of different crops and advisory services and continued to offer resident instruction programme in Agricultural Entomology comprising of undergraduate, post graduates and PhD. Subsequently creation of an independent Department of Agricultural Entomology has been resolved in the Executive Council of Visva-Bharati in its meeting dated 23.02.2019 vide agenda Item No.4 and started to function independently w.e.f. 2nd June 2019 vide Memo No. Aca-G/K-40/190/2019-20 dated 02.06.2019. After emergence as a full-fledged department it is continued to fulfil the following mandates like, to teach Agricultural Entomology for students of B.Sc. (Ag), M.Sc. (Ag) and Ph.D. degree courses and to undertake research on integrated insect pest and mite management in cereals, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants and stored products with special emphasis on Host Plant Resistance, Bio-control, Botanicals, Chemical control, to test newer insecticide molecules against major insect pests of crops. In addition to provide plant protection advisory services to farmers, extension functionaries of the State Department of Agriculture, Horticulture, Non-Governmental and Private Organizations, to offer trainings on plant protection aspects to farmers and extension functionaries and to disseminate plant protection techniques through All India Radio, dailies, research articles, popular articles, leaflets, etc. The Department has so far contributed around 100 well-trained post graduate students to the human resource pool of agriculture and allied sectors. Many alumni of the college have risen to exalted positions and gained recognition both at national and international levels. Besides these the Department is also gearing up to establish a well-equipped experiential learning unit of Sericulture that helps to produce job provider, rather than job seeking graduates. Faculties of the department are involved in qualitative research work which is ventilated through many numbers of good publications and awards. Students of the departments have also won many accolades.