Entomology & Plant Pathology
Entomology and Plant Pathology Disciplines deal mainly with the control of insect pests and diseases of the cereals, vegetables, fruits, forests, ornamentals stored products and house hold articles.
Entomology by definition is the study of insects, in entomology all biological aspects of insect life and their role in ecosystem is studied. Whereas Plant pathology deals with the study of plant diseases including fungi, bacteria, nematodes and viruses.
Plant Protection Department presently emerged by the combination of two disciplines i.e. entomology and plant pathology in one administrative setup, however academically both disciplines are being offered as majors and are working independently.
Plant pathology basically deals with the
plant diseases and physiological disorders incited by fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, molecutes, phanerogamic plants and reckitsea and also deals with study of
edible fungi called mushrooms. Plant diseases are chronic problem of the emerging world today. Economical crops are affected all over the world by these pathogens reducing the plant health, growth,
vigor, yield and impair the quality. By the 161University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir proper management of these pathogens food requirement of the society can be fulfilled and agricultural economy of the country can be boost up and productivity of the crops can be increased by its knowledge dissemination and application at the grass root level. Sensitive Plant Pathological techniques are important biotechnological
tools for teaching and research in other and allied subjects of agriculture. Its laboratories furnished facilities for other agricultural disciplines and can coordinate the practical research and facilities. Mushrooms are familiar for their delicacy, eating, rapid growth, delectable flavour and well engineered biotechnology.
The discipline was started with the start of
the University during the year 1980, however it gained the status of major discipline later during the year 1995. Presently the department is being run by only two staff members hence the major is offered during the alternative years. The student and staff
research is focused on local plant disease identification, disease biology and control practices using conventional and advanced techniques friendly to the environment. The research has been accomplished in the
identification, classification and cultivation of local mushroom species of edible nature. It is worth mentioning that the mushrooms of Azad Jammu & Kashmir have been explored first time and about 8 new species have been identified. The specimens have been preserved in national museum and the information published in international journals of repute. Entomology, the study of insects or Hexapod
animals is a multidisciplinary field comprising on insect taxonomy, morphology, physiology, pestology, endocrinology and neuro-endocrinology. The students specializing in the field of entomology usually start their brilliant careers as teachers at schools, colleges and universities, as experts in pesticides companies, as manufacturers, distributers and field experts, in the hospitals, to control and diagnose the
insect borne-diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever and murine typhus, as quarantine officers, to control the inception of insects from one country to the other countries.
The discipline of entomology was initiated immediately with the inception of the agriculture faculty at Rawalakot during the year 1980 and is contributing greatly in academic and research life of the faculty
since then. The students graduating from the department are serving in Government departments as well in the private sector of agriculture especially in pesticide companies. The student and staff research is focused on local problems of insects which are taking great toll for the last many years especially
in fruit and forest trees as well as green forages of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Few funding projects from various national agencies have been completed by the staff and one HEC project is in progress to solve
the local problems of insects.
The department is emphasizing on integrated pest management (IPM) programme because of the aftereffects of pesticides and their residual effects in the environment. The IPM includes cultural, mechanical and biological control of the insect pests instead
of using the synthetic chemicals which are
impairing the human health and polluting the environment rendering irreversible damage all over the world. The department is planning to launch a campaign to keep Azad Jammu & Kashmir a pesticide free
The department of entomology is involved in classification of insects from Azad Jammu & Kashmir and quite a few new species have been identified, specimens preserved and information published in international journals for record.