Background:

The role of insect pests and diseases is one of the most contributing factors of stagnation in agricultural growth. The environmental friendly control measures of insect pests and diseases have been a topic of debate among the planners and decision makers of agricultural policies. Moreover, the importance of insect pests and diseases is coming under scanner, particularly with the liberalization of global agriculture trade. The WTO regulations facilitate the trade of agricultural commodities, but riddance from insect pests and diseases in export-import oriented agricultural produce is required to be strictly monitored and regulated by Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary certifications. This is very important particularly in the region which belongs to mega biodiversity hotspots. Demand of improvement of qualitative traits of agricultural produce and their value addition, has also contributed to the importance of plant protection measures. The increasing application of biotechnology and nano-technology in agricultural research, including plant protection, warrants through revision of our human resource development strategies to meet the growing challenges. Therefore, School of Crop Protection (SCP) promises to offer postgraduate teaching and research programmes with an aim to generate globally competent human resource with blending of regional needs in plant protection disciplines viz., Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology.

The SCP comprising of Agricultural Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology came into existence at College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences in the academic year of 2008-09. Currently the School is offering three M.Sc. programmes in Agricultural Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology and Ph.D. programme in Plant Pathology.

Intake capacity of is 5 and 2 for M.Sc. (Agril. Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology) and Ph. D. (Plant Pathology) respectively. A total 110 numbers of students have been awarded degree in Agril. Entomology and Plant Pathology disciplines at Masters level and 2 at Ph. D. level. School has sufficient number of competent faculties ( 8 in three disciplines).

Mandates:

• To train and educate students in Crop Protection Science.
• To carry out research in the areas of Crop Protection on the problems of North Eastern India.
• To take the research findings to farmers field through package and practice programme.
• Making the knowledge of Crop Protection Sciences widely spread and socially acceptable. Thrust Areas: The School has following thrust areas in Research.

Focused Research thrust areas:

1. Documentation of major insect pests and diseases including post harvest problems of important crops of the NEH region.
2. Integrated management of pests and diseases under different cropping systems.

Prioritized Researchable issues:

Sl. No.	Thrust Areas	Prioritized Researchable Issues
1.	Exploration of local bioresources for insect pests, nematodes and disease management.	1. Exploration of potential fungal, bacterial, viral biocontrol agents for insect pests, nematodes and disease management. 2. Exploration of local botanicals for plant health management.
2.	Diversification of major insect pests, nematodes and diseases.	1. Diversity of stingless bees and its characterization in NEH region. 2. Studies on important storage insect pests and their management. 3. Effect of climate change on pest and disease recurrence. 4. Establishment of insect museum and repository of potential microbes. 5. Survey and identification of plant parasitic nematodes in cereal, vegetable and fruit crops. 6. Mass awareness programme of nematodes problems and their management up to the farmers level in every center of Central Agricultural University.
3.	Integrated management of insect pests, nematodes and diseases under different cropping systems.	1. Integrated management of tomato leaf miner and pin worm, litchi borer, citrus trunk borer, gundhi bug, fall army worm, large cardamom aphids (Chirke and Phurke disease), yellow stem borer, tungro virus, white plant hopper in rice, brinjal fruit and shoot borer, diamond back moth in cabbage. 2. Integrated management of tree bean decline, solanaceous wilt, rhizome rot of ginger, viral diseases of king chilli, Dale chilli, citrus decline, white mold of vegetables, late blight of potato, marbling disease of pineapple, wilt of forest trees and sandal wood bacterial wilt. 3. Development of post harvest disease management in fruits like pineapple, citurs etc. 4. Management of Root Knot Nematode in rice and vegetables. 5. Identification and management of plant parasitic nematodes in protected cultivation. 6. Research on management of nutritional deficiency in crops. 7. Organic management of Soil arthropods. 8. Research on nano-technological approach of pest and disease management. 9. Development of bio-formulation with native isolates and its use in organic pest and disease management. 10. Residual studies of insecticides to reduce its adverse effects on crops. 11. Study on host plant resistance for pest management in major crops.
4.	Documentation of Edible fungi and Economically important insects.	1. Research work on honey bees and edible insects. 2. Utilization of edible insects as poultry feed. 3. Exploitation of indigenous host plants, species and commercial cultivation of Lac insects.