The Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in the Government of India, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, launched a massive pink bollworm awareness campaign in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India on February 25, 2018. The pink bollworm awareness campaign is implemented jointly by South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), Indian Society for Cotton Improvement (ISCI), and Agrovision Foundation.

Minister Gadkari led the pink bollworm awareness campaign float that would travel in most of the affected villages in Vidharbha, Maharashtra. The campaign float plays a teaser jingle when it reaches an affected village by spreading the message of effective pink bollworm control. The pink bollworm jingle will be aired twice a day through All India Radio – Akashvani. During the launch, Minister Gadkari released a Marathi version of pink bollworm management strategy authored by Dr. CD Mayee and Bhagirath Choudhary. He also released a cartoon booklet and a poster on pink bollworm awareness campaign. A total of 100,000 posters were distributed in the villages.

Minister Gadkari was joined in the event by Dr. CD Mayee, Bhagirath Choudhary, and members of the academe, officials from ICAR-CICR, ICAR-CIRCOT, ISCI, and Agrovision Foundation. Around 300 farmers and professionals working in cotton value chain participated in the launch.

More details about pink bollworm awareness campaign on SABC website.