‘Gulabi’ campaign to combat pink bollworm by Syngenta launched

The “Gulabi” campaign
According to KC Ravi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Syngenta India, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based agricultural science and technology company Syngenta, ‘To combat the pink bollworm pest in the crop, the Swiss firm’s Indian arm has established a model cotton farm and launched a “Gulabi” campaign. ‘We have taught farmers proper farming techniques, such as using pheromone traps to weed out pests. We’re sharing our best experiences with them.’

Between 2014 and 2019, Syngenta covered 7.48 million growers, including 2.5 small farm holders, and provided intensive training to a number of farmers and spray men, who in turn are training others. Based on the success of its project, the Maharashtra government has asked the firm to share its knowledge with administrative officials from other districts.

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According to Ramesh Seshrav Gujjalwar, who has benefited from the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit and training, some growers, including himself, used to chew tobacco or be intoxicated while spraying pesticides unprotected. ‘We now understand the importance of protecting ourselves while spraying, and the kits protect us from all of these hazards,’ he says.

Syngenta’s Inculcating Safety Awareness for Farmer Empowerment (I-SAFE) program has evolved into a safe spraying initiative in rural areas. In collaboration with Gramin Samasya Mukti Trust, it is assisting farmers in reducing the risks of exposure through awareness training and the distribution of PPE kits.

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