Hyderabad: National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) and the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP have set up 326 Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) to reduce reliance on costly chemical pesticides and promote sustainable agriculture. Grassroots Capacity BuildingAs part of the initiative, NIPHM’s Rajendranagar facility conducted hands-on, practical training programs across 10 batches. The trained women were equipped with essential tools and processing facilities to prepare organic soil and crop-protection inputs at the village level. "The collaboration between NIPHM and SERP marks a significant milestone in strengthening the natural farming ecosystem in the State. This initiative will promote self-reliance among farmers, reduce dependence on external agricultural inputs, improve soil health, and support environmentally sustainable farming practices," says K Srinivas, Registrar at NIPHM.