SHILLONG: DBT twinning foldscope workshop was organised recently by ICAR–National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (ICAR–NBAIR), Bengaluru in collaboration with ICAR RC NEH, Umiam for organic farmers of Mynsain village, Ri Bhoi to address and demonstrate the utility of the paper-based microscope (Foldscope) in advocating management practices against microscopic insect pests damages causing drastic yield reduction under fragile organic farming crop fields.
Around 40 tribal farmers, who generally practice organic farming for rice and vegetable cultivation in their smallholdings having keen interest in the modern agro-technologies, were participated in the workshop.
Dr. R. Krishnappa, Scientist, Division of Crop Production, ICAR Complex for NEH Region, Barapani while moderating the programme, elucidated the uniqueness of the Foldscope, its special features, important applications for organic farming farmers in fragile ecosystems of Meghalaya in the modern era of information technology, artificial intelligence and robotics.
Dr. Prakya Sreerama Kumar, Principal scientist from ICAR–NBAIR, Bengaluru, while highlighting the utility of Foldscope in agriculture, informed that this foldscope is majorly driven by smartphone which are commonly available with every one during modern days.
Dr. Praveen Rahi, Scientist from NCCS–NCMR, Pune present during the programme emphasised the special use of the Foldscope in studying soil type, soil microbes, root nodulation, vital root parts in the light of existence of apparent quixotic plant microbe interactions and harnessing such mechanisms for benefit of organic agriculture in the acid soils of Meghalaya. Later, the farmers were exposed to handle the paper microscope with special emphasis on its utility in observation of harmful and beneficial microscopic pests like aphids, thrips, parasitoids and mites. Few foldscope microscopes were distributed to young farmers who were technically sound to utilise it for day-to-day observations in practicing organic agriculture.
Another DBT North East twinning Foldscope workshop on ‘Democratising Science through Foldscope’ (under Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology) was jointly organised by the Division of Crop Production, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam and NCCS (National Centre for Cell Science), Pune, Maharashtra recently at KendriyaVidyalaya NEPA, Barapani.
Around 50 interested topper students from higher secondary classes (9th, 10th and 11th) have participated in the programme.
Dr. Krishnappa while moderating the programme described the uniqueness of newly invented foldscope by Indian scientist Dr Manu Prakash who currently serving at Dept of Bio-engineering, Stanford University, USA.
The programme witnesses active and enthusiastic participation by all students with keen captivation by the fascinated origami of foldscope.
