Nagpur: Suryajit Bagchi, also known as the antman of Nagpur for ability to predict rainfall pattern on the basis of behaviour of weaver ants before monsoon, has come up with a herbal pesticide for bollworm.
Bagchi’s invention is being supported by Ready2Innovate Worldwide forum, a company that arranges funding for innovative works.
Addressing a press conference here, Bagchi claimed to have developed a pesticide using dosages of homeopathic and Ayurvedic medicines that he found effective against bollworm and harmless on humans. He has already applied for a patent and the application is at an advance stage of scrutiny. The invention has also been sent to the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth at Rahori six months ago and results of scrutiny are expected soon, he said.
Bagchi himself is yet to try his invention on a large area. It was tried last year in January at a single farm in Wardha district. Bagchi said the pesticide was also effective on cauliflower, soyabean, tur apart from cotton, which is the latest discovery. He admitted though that trials had not been taken up in an area of more than 20 acres, if all crops are clubbed.
He said the bollworm dies 3-4 days after ingestion of pesticide. Preventive spraying at flowering stage could lead to its early termination without harming the plant, he claimed.
