The ENVIS Centre of Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding Coimbatore has designed a one of its kind mobile application called "TREE PESTS OF INDIA". IFGTB has complied an comprehensive app to identify different species of pests and insects attacking trees and ways to save trees.
This one of its kind mobile app is the brainchild of Scientists of IFGTB, Coimbatore headed by the Director of Institute Of Forest Genetics And Tree Breeding, (IFGTB) R.S.Prashanth.
While speaking exclusively to SimpliCity, Director R.S.Prashanth said "This mobile application is first of its kind in the entire forestry department in India. We at IFGTB are very much aware of the issues faced by farmers like water scarcity, lack of knowledge of fertilizer usage, dearth in immunity of trees making them more vulnerable to insect and pest attacks and much more.
Pest attacks have become an ineluctable problem amidst tree growers. Hence, we focused on devising feasible solutions to the tree growers.
Every month at IFGTB, we host meetings with tree growers association in the district to discuss on the latest challenges faced by them like pest attacks, boosting immunity of trees, dearth in growth, paucity of resources etc., A dedicated phone line at IFGTB for addressing tree growers' issues and for clarifying pest-related queries is also made available to the tree growers. Despite all efforts, the tree growers continue to face serious problems due to pests. And, that's when we decided to create a dedicated up-to-date platform to address exclusively on pest attacks along with feasible solutions. And, that's how the app "TREE PESTS OF INDIA" originated.
The app is just 4 Mb in size and presently available on all Android devices and will be officially launched in Coimbatore in a fortnight. However, the mobile application had a soft launch in Gandhinagar, Gujarat by Ajay Narayanan Jha, Secreatary and Minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change earlier this month." said Prashanth, Director of IFGTB, Coimbatore.
Dr. Senthil Kumar, Scientist from IFGTB who has contributed to the content part of the app shared that "In 2010, after undergoing intense research work myself along with Dr. Murugesan and Dr.N.Krishnakumar penned a book called "An illustrated Guide on Insect Pests of Important Tree Species in South India". This book has complete details of pest attacks on trees with remedies.
With the advancement of technology, everyone wants information pertaining to their fields at fingertips, and that's when we thought of transforming the book into an app. At present this mobile application has 25 most important pest attacks on various tree species across the country.
Comprehensive details on tree species, insect species, order, family, hosts along with life history of the insect species, generalized symptoms of pest attack, damages caused and control measures among others with pictorial representation has been complied in the app. The content of the mobile application does not have any regional limitations, as it covers pest attacks recorded in trees across India. The mobile application will be automatically updated and soon pest attacks on 144 tree species will be available on the app.
Dr. Kannan Warrier, Scientist and Co-ordinator, ENVIS elaborated that the tree growers are progressive farmers. Today, most of the farmers have a smart phone. Hence, we believe that this app will be of immense use to them as they can instantaneously rule out pest infestations at the beginning phase itself. Thus, the tree grower can prevent the woe spreading to other trees.
We are planning to educate the tree growers on the usage of the app during the upcoming monthly meets. So far, the response for this app from the tree growers in Gujarat has been over-whelming hence we expect that tree growers here would also use this one stop solution app for pests on a regular basis and get benefited', said Dr.Kannan Warrier.
Dr.Mutharain, Programme Officer, Vamadevan Information Officer and Thangavel IT Assistant are the other contributors for this mobile application.