National Agricultural Technology Extension and Service Center (NATESC) and Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, jointly conducted survey of cotton and maize diseases and insect pests and technical guidance in fields in Xinjiang and co-organized a training course successfully for identification of diseases and insect pests in cotton and maize and the monitoring and control techniques on 23-27, August.

Combined indoor lectures with field identification, the invited lecturers, the experts in cotton and maize diseases and insect pests, investigated the occurrence and harm of cotton and maize diseases and insect pests in Korla City and Qitai County. The lecturers and trainees viewed and emulated the demonstration of novel monitoring equipment. The lecturers explained on-site the practical knowledge of identification of symptoms caused by diseases and insect pests and control techniques to floor plant protection workers in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. The lectures were given in Qitai County after the field explanation. The lectures were composed of three sessions, i.e. cotton diseases and insect pests, maize diseases and insect pests and monitoring and forecasting technology. The focuses of the training were on the identification of the diseases and insect pests, monitoring and forecasting and control technology, and writing of agricultural scientific and technological articles. The lecturers answered questions asked by the trainees.

More than 120 trainees including pest forecasters in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and from Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and Xinjiang Integrated Experimental Station of National Cotton Industry Technology System attended this training. The holding of the training course in Xinjiang accepted praises from local agricultural sectors and floor technicians. Such training course is helpful to improve local technology in crop pest monitoring, forecasting and control.