Deviating to biopesticides Coromandel signs Mou with NRDC

Hyderabad, Oct 26 (UNI) Planning to diversify into biopesticides, Coromandal Biotech Industries (India) Ltd today signed a Memorandom of Understanding (MoU) with National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) New Delhi, for transfer of biolarvicide technology using bacillus thuringiensis var isaeiensis strain (VCRC B17) to control proliferation of mosquitoes.

The MoU was signed here by NRDC Chairman and Managing Director NRDC and Somnath Ghosh and Managing Director M/s Coromandal Biotech Industries (India) Ltd-Hyderabad D Mallikarjun Reddy in the presencce of Deputy Director Vector Control Research Centre Pondicherry K Balaram.

Biolarvicide technology had been successfully developed by Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC) Pondicherry. VCRC was a constituent laboratory under Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. The technology had undergone several tests and its identity had been confirmed by the World Health Organisation.

Biolarvicide technology helped controling proliferation of mosquitoes- aedies, anopheles, cluex and other species which spread dengue, chikungunya, malaria, filaria and Japanese encephalitis. It was an environmental-friendly biological product, non-toxic to animals and human beings and would not allow resistance to be developed in mosquitoes.

The company would set up a processing plant with about Rs 70 lakh investment to manufacture biolavricide near Renigunta in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh and commercial production would commence within 90 days.

To market the pesticide, aggressive marketing strategies had already been commenced by the company. Field testing and demonstrations would be given to all corporations, municipalities and Mandal Revenue offices at village level with the help of NRDC and VCRC scientists to prove the effectiveness of biolarvicide technology in controlling proliferation of mosquitoes.

UNI DB GKT 1815