The Hindu : National : ICRISAT in talks for mass production of ELISA test kits

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ICRISAT in talks for mass production of ELISA test kits

Special Correspondent

Kits detect aflatoxin, which contaminates food products affecting health of humans and livestock
The kit developed by ICRISAT costs $1 as against those available in the market costing $25

HYDERABAD: International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is in talks with a few companies for large scale production of a low cost kit for detection of aflatoxin, which contaminates many food products affecting the health of humans and livestock.

The kit developed by ICRISAT costs $1 as against those available in the market costing $25, its Director-General William Dar told reporters here on Thursday.

Lost sales

Aflatoxin contaminates groundnut, maize, sorghum, millets, poultry and milk costing farmers hugely each year in lost sales. Many countries reject import of agricultural products that exceed certain levels of aflatoxin.

The ELISA test kit developed by ICRISAT rapidly detects the presence of aflatoxin and could be used in remote areas to monitor grains, nuts and improve storage techniques. ICRISAT also helped in establishing aflatoxin detection laboratories in India, Mozambique, Kenya, Malawi and Mali.

Meanwhile ICRISAT in collaboration with World Vegetable Centre, has planned to help dry land farmers diversify their crops across 350 watershed areas across the country. Both the institutes were strengthening their research collaboration to diversify the food basket for the farmers from developing countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Dar, chair ICRISAT governing board, Stein W Bie and Director General World Vegetable Centre, Dyno Keatinge said.

Mr. Keatinge said the World Vegetable Centre has launched a project to screen 600 lines of bitter gourd registered with ICAR as the Kerala species was believed to contain a chemical that helps in diabetes control. Dr. Dar also made it clear that ICRISAT would not move out of India and, in fact, expand its activities in the country.

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