SylbV01-00-00. pmd

Dr A.K. Bhowmick
Dr S. Lingaraju
Convener
Chairman
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The BSMA Committee on Plant Protection meticulously deliberated upon the issues to
ameliorate the overall agricultural education programme, and plant protection in particular.
The curricula and syllabi of the three disciplines, viz., Entomology, Plant Pathology and
Nematology, were discussed in the meetings and workshops convened by the BSMA
Committee on Plant Protection. The opinions and suggestions invited from institutions,
eminent scientists, and other stakeholders (private entrepreneurs, governmental and non-
governmental organizations) were reviewed by the Committee. The modified post-graduate
programme in Plant Protection has been designed to meet out the demands of private
sector, advanced research and applications, supplementary practical skills required, and
to enhance national and global competence and employability of our students.
The Master’s and Doctoral programmes retain the fundamental aspects, e.g. morphology,
taxonomy, physiology, biology/ bionomics and ecology (analogous to learning the basic 
ragas
in Indian classical music to excel in music) besides covering the applied aspects of beneficial
biota, be they insects, nematodes, fungi or bacteria), their commercial utilization, pest/
pathogen spectrum of specific crops and their management. Various current issues and
latest approaches in the subject of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology have been
given a new thrust. Aiming at improving the theoretical and practical knowledge of the
postgraduate students in their respective subjects the number of Masters courses have
been increased from 20 (in the previous dispensation) to 23 in Entomology; and from 14 to
15 in Nematology with considerable credit load on the practical aspects. At the doctoral
level, impetus has been given to research work. Certain courses have been merged if the
syllabi in them were found overlapping.
•
Entomology. 
Some of the salient features of the revised curriculum at the Master’s
level include: emphasis on molecular approaches and nanotechnology in entomology;
molecular systematics; understanding host plant resistance and breeding for pest
resistant crop cultivars; ecological engineering/ farmscaping for pest management
in conventional and organic farming systems; besides an independent course on
integrated management of pest/ disease situations (insects, mites, diseases and
nematodes) in protected cultivation; independent, advanced training in edible and
therapeutic insects; medical and veterinary entomology; sericulture, apiculture and
lac culture to encourage location-specific self-employment 
vis-à-vis
enhancing farm
income; detailed study on post-harvest losses due to insects, mites and vertebrate
pests, and their management; an elaborate exposure to plant quarantine, bio-safety
and bio-security in view of the rising invasive insect pest infestations and
repercussions of climate change. These aspects have been included in the Master’s
curriculum itself keeping in view of the invasive, exotic pest infestation records as
also with a view to cover the details of Indian Biodiversity Act. The course on
Commercial Entomology has been split into three separate courses (Apiculture,
Sericulture and Lac Culture) to give wider scope for location-specific self
employment, as envisaged in the National Educational Policy and towards
enhancement of farmer’s income. At the Doctoral level, the coverage of different