At the 41st Annual Convention of IPCA, around 200 delegates from professional companies as well as suppliers, manufacturers, and experts from the pest management industry from across the country and abroad gathered at the Temple City, Bhubaneswar, from 28-30th August 2008.
His Excellency, the Governor of Orissa, Shri M.C. Bhandare, was the Chief Guest, along with Dr. K.S. Gautam, Joint Director, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (DPPQ&S), Govt. of India and Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Director of Agriculture & Food Production, Govt. of Orissa, who was the Guest of Honour.
After the formal inauguration of the Convention including the traditional lighting of the lamp, ICPA office bearers escorted the dignitaries to the exhibition stall area where the latest pest control products and equipment were displayed.
Over the next two days, eminent speakers including pest management experts and representatives of reputed companies from India and abroad made presentations in keeping with the theme : “Integrated Pest Management : Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges”.
On day one, the morning session saw presentations from Mr. L.P. Naik, GM Technical, Godrej HiCare on Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges, followed by a presentation on Export Fumigation : a Reality Check by Mr. Jayant Dandawate, VP- Services, Pest Control India. The pre-lunch session saw presentations on Current Trends in Customer Services by Mr. Gopi Pillai, Regional Director, Rentokil, which was followed by a presentation on Using Glue Traps for Green Pest Management by Mr. Craig Martelle from AP&G.
The post-lunch session saw presentations on Bedbugs & their Treatment by Dr. Michael Moi, Rentokil Malaysia, followed by Rodent Management in Commercial Establishments by Dr. Anil K. Makkapati of Bayer Environmental Science and Knowledge of Termite Entomology for Better Termite control by Dr. P.K. Sarangi, Orissa Institute of Agriculture Technology (OUAT). A break from technical sessions was provided by a humourous talk on Health, Humour and Happiness by Dr. K.P. Mishra.
Day two saw presentations in the morning sessions on Science for A Better Life in Public Health by Mr. Jason Nash of Bayer Environmental Science, Malaysia and Mosquito Management for Public Health by Dr. Hazra, Regional Malaria Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar. The pre-lunch session had presentations from Mr. Nikhil Chatterjee, VP – Marketing, Pest Control India on Ants : A Basic Understanding, followed by Ants : Treatment methodology by Mr. Jason Nash of Bayer Environmental Science, Malaysia. The final presentation was on 24×7 in the Corporate Sector by Mr Atul Mehta of Indo-Gulf Pest Control, Delhi.
The cultural programmes were a fusion of the classical and the modern, with dance performances by one of the world’s leading Odissi exponents, Sanjukta Panigrahi, being one of the highlights. The venue, the Mayfair Lagoon, offered unparalleled style, sophistication and elegance, making it the best choice for a comfortable and magical stay in Bhubaneswar and delegates also visited the world famous Sun Temple at Konark and the revered Temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri, one of the Four Dhams or Holiest pilgrimage sites, for Hindus.