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TNAU promoting bio-agents

Amutha Kannan

GOOD AND BAD: Good insects being bred under laboratory conditions for use as bio-agents.

COIMBATORE: Even as bio-agents are attracting large farmers in a big way, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is striving hard to reach them to small farmers. It is promoting alternative strategies for disease and pest management by using good bacteria, fungi and insects among farmers.

Known as bio-control agents or bio-pesticides, they not only biologically control various diseases and pests, but also promote plant growth. Popularly known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), this comes as a via media for farmers who yearn to be eco-friendly, yet unable to invest in organic farming.

Director of Centre for Plant Protection Studies R. Samiyappan says: "Many large sugarcane farmers have started manufacturing bio-agents on their own for internal consumption. Small farmers should be made aware of the advantages of IPM - it is pollution free, conserves bio-diversity, is economically viable and promotes crop growth."

The centre has been working on identifying new bio-agents and processes of multiplying potential bio-control agents under laboratory conditions. It is also involved in developing the technology of mass production of talc-based formulation of bio-agents and marketing them for long.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor C. Ramasamy says: "It is less capital intensive and more labour intensive. Awareness about this has to increase. TNAU has not only been manufacturing bio-agents, but has also been involved in training entrepreneurs' to manufacture on their own. Tamil Nadu leads in bio-control in India. The concept will take time to become universally accepted."

National Horticultural Commission has allotted a grant of Rs. 6 crore for strengthening the bio-control laboratory facility at the university.

Those interested can contact 0422-6611237/6611446 for details on bio-control.

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