NEDFI to market lowcost bio-pesticide produced by a local youth

Guwahati, June 5 (UNI) Kashyap Gogoi, a bachelor's degree student in Aeronautical engineering in Bangalore, has conceived a low-cost bio-pesticide produced from Nephrodium Cucullantum, popularly known as 'Bih-Dhekia' and raw papaya.

This bio-pesticide would be highly effective to control mosquitoes and termites, Mr Gogoi claimed. He got a patent for his research in January 2003.

Impressed by the Kashyap's product, the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFI) has come forward to support a pilot project which would give final shape to branding and marketing of the new bio-pesticide.

The pilot project would determine the market viability of the product, standardize the methodology for the commercial production of the bio-pesticide, determine shelf-life of the product, identify the sources and availability of the raw materials for large scale production, investigate the feasibility of economic cultivation of the raw materials, explore the feasibility for further improvement of the product and collect feedback from field trials.

Kashyap made a presentation of his project recently at NEDFI Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre at Khetri in presence of Dr M Ahmed, Director R &D Centre and other Officials.

Dr(Mrs) Madhu Phull and Dr D K Pandey, both scientists from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Dr K Goswami, Retired Director of Forensic Laboratory, Guwahati, Dr B Mandal of Bidhan Chandra, Krishi Vishwavidyalala were also present on the occasion.

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