Annual Convention of Indian Pest Control Association Kicks Off in Chennai

Chennai:

Port Wings News Network:

The three-day annual convention of the Indian Pest Control Association (IPCA), INDIAPEST 2026, began at ITC Grand Chola in Chennai on 20 August. This event is a platform to bring together professionals, experts, researchers and industry leaders for knowledge sharing, meaningful discussions and business networking.

S. Ramanathan, IPS (Retd), former Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Tamil Nadu, was the Chief Guest of the inaugural event, while Chozha Naachiar Rajasekar, President of the Tamil Chamber of Commerce (TCC), was the Guest of Honour.

Setting the stage for deep dive into discussion and deliberations by star-studded panel of experts, Dr. Satish Tyagi, President, IPCA, addressed the gathering.

“Chennai has always been a city of knowledge, enterprise”

After formally welcoming all the delegates for the convention, Dr. Satish Tyagi stated: “Bringing our industry together in Chennai is not just a change of venue, it is an opportunity to connect with a new region, engage with new professionals, strengthen our relationships, and take the message of professional pest management to an even wider audience.”

“Chennai has always been a city of knowledge, enterprise, culture, and hospitality. I am confident that this beautiful city will give India Pest 2026 its own special character and create memories that all of us will cherish,” he added.

“Platform where knowledge meets experience”

Speaking about the significance of safety and dignity, Dr Tyagi said, “Pest management is sometimes not given the recognition it deserves. But we know the truth. We are not merely controlling pests. We are protecting public health, food, property, businesses, and the environment.”

“India Pest is not merely an exhibition or a technical conference. It is a platform where knowledge meets experience, technology meets opportunity, and competitors become collaborators. Our industry is changing rapidly. New technologies, digital solutions, biological approaches, improved formulations, monitoring systems, artificial intelligence, resistance management, and increasingly demanding customer expectations are transforming the way we work,” he further added.

“The future of pest management belongs to those who are willing to learn, adapt, innovate, and act ethically,” he concluded.

Addressing the gathering, Binay P. Singh, Secretary, IPCA, detailed the annual convention and stressed the theme of the convention, “Safety and Dignity.” Delivering the Guest of Honour’s address, Chozha Naachiar Rajasekar thanked the IPCA for choosing Chennai as the venue for the annual convention.

“There is a lot of opportunity for setting up pest control-related industries in Tamil Nadu, and I urge the IPCA to think about having them in the state,” he added.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest S. Ramanathan congratulated the IPCA for holding its annual convention in Chennai, saying, “Chennai welcomes you all.”

Ramanathan stated: “IPCA does its best to control pollution. You entrepreneurs must work together to make India a great competitor on the global stage. I expect every citizen to do their part to make our country great.”

Earlier, the Chief Guest along with other guests inaugurated the exhibition stalls put up inside the convention hall.

INDIAPEST has long served as an important platform for the pest management industry in India. The 2026 edition continues this tradition with a strong line-up of speakers representing diverse fields, including leadership, medical entomology, vector-borne disease research, cybersecurity, sustainable agriculture and agribusiness.

Besides, INDIAPEST 2026 will also explore subjects that are increasingly relevant to modern businesses and organisations. Stelson F. Quadros, Vice President, IPCA, proposed vote of thanks.

At the end of the inaugural session, D. P. Shahi, Treasurer, and D. S. Sugara, Additional Secretary honoured all the guests. Events on the first day ended with two technical sessions.

TECHNICAL SESSIONS

Over the next two days, there will be technical sessions on the following topics: “Impact of Cybersecurity Challenges on the Pest Management Industry” by Yogesh Thanage, Founder of Shellstrong; “Importance of Pest Control by FSSAI” by Dr. Amit Sharma, ED, FSSAI; “Who Speaks for Indian Pest Management” by M. Arun Kumar, Envu; “Pest Management Market Consolidation & Aggregation – Global Case Studies” by Parmindar Matharu, RiSOURCE, Australia; “Professional Approach in Weed Management in Industrial Sectors” by Dr. Ram Swaroop Bana, Indian Agricultural Research Institute; and “Collaborative Vector Management for Malaria Elimination” by Dr. Irrusappan Hari, Scientist-C, ICMR.

Additional technical sessions will cover: “Importance of Sustainable Pest Management” by David Loughlin, United Kingdom; and “Future of Bio-Pesticides & Pest Management” by Dinesh Chauhan, ICRISAT. On Day 3, the following sessions are scheduled: “Updated Rules & Regulations Pertinent to the Fumigation Industry” by Dr. D. K. Nagaraju, Joint Director (Entomology), Directorate of PPQ&S; and “The Entrepreneur’s Wealth Blueprint: Securing Personal Wealth Outside Your Enterprise” by Dr. Murari Pattibaraman, IIT Madras.