Lentil is a valuable rabi crop as it is relatively drought tolerant and requires fewer inputs. All stages of crop production need attention as pests (insect and diseases) are being managed through traditional farming methods, often leading to low quality and yield parameters. Department of Agriculture and Co-operation (DAC) under Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India has taken up massive outreach programme in pulse under National Food Security Mission to increase pulse production and productivity in major pulse growing districts. Of late, National Centre for Integrated Pest Management (NCIPM), New Delhi of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has joined hands with several Universities with the help of DAC in implementing IPM through wide area IPM approach across the country. Implementation of IPM strategies has not onlylead to increase in yield with less use of pesticides but also increase confidence among farmers towards pulses. Since IPM is knowledge intensive, hence capacity building is of paramount importance.This publication would serve as a guide and will go a long way in up-scaling plant protection pursuit of pulse workers apart from providing a road map for strengthening sustainable production systems in lentil.
