Lok Sabha Question No. 408 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: National Pest Surveillance System
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 408

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  July, 2025

## NATIONAL PEST SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM

408.  SHRI RAMASAHAYAM RAGHURAM REDDY :

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

(a) the expected impact of the newly launched National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) on reducing farmers' dependence on pesticide retailers, and how it will benefit farmers;

(b) the manner in which the system will ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of  crop  diseases to increase agricultural productivity and preserve soil health, particularly for farmers of Telangana;

(c)  the  specific  measures  that  are  being  implemented  to  educate  and  train  farmers  in Telangana on using the AI-based NPSS platform for pest control and crop management; and (d) whether there are any plans to develop region-specific resources and support in local languages to encourage widespread adoption of the platform in Telangana and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏयमंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a)  to  (d):  The  National  Pest  Surveillance  System  (NPSS)  has  been  launched  on  15th August, 2024 by the Hon'ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to enhance the surveillance and management of pest diseases across the country. The system utilizes latest digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI and ML) for identification of pests and diseases and provide real time crop protection advisory to the farmers in all the States including State of Telangana. It includes a user-friendly mobile app and web portal for identification of pests and diseases in 65 crops and pest management advisories are being issued for 31 major crops namely Cotton, Rice, Maize, Chilli, Wheat, Soybean,  Sugarcane,  Pigeon  pea,  Black  gram,  Apple,  Grapes,  Banana,  Pomegranate, Tomato,  Brinjal  ,  Bitter  gourd,  Bottle  gourd,  Cabbage,  Cauliflower,  Cucumber,  Ginger, Kinnow, Mango, Okra, Onion, Orange, Papaya, Potato, Sapota, Sweet Orange, Cashew nut to the farmers. So far, 10713 pest management advisories have been issued through NPSS for  the  benefit  of  farmers  in  five  languages  namely  English,  Hindi,  Marathi,  Punjabi  and Odiya.

Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  through  its  Central  Integrated  Pest Management  Centers  (CIPMCs),  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  and  State  Agriculture Departments  conduct  various  training  programs  and  workshops  to  create  awareness among  farmers,  state  agriculture  department  officials  and  extension  workers  for  use  of NPSS for pest identification and disease management including use of pesticides.

Further,  Central  Integrated  Pest  Management  Center  (CIPMC),  Hyderabad  has conducted 32 training programmes for use of NPSS in all the districts of state of Telangana and  booklet  on  NPSS  in  Local  language  (Telugu)  was  distributed  to  the  farmers.  Video Conference  programme  on  NPSS  named ' Raithu  Nestham ' was  organized  by  State Agriculture Department, Govt. of Telangana in which farmers and agriculture officers were present and 1,034 Raithu Vedikas participated in the NPSS training programme.

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