| Details of Innovation |
Sri. Rajendran is a 50 year old who owns 40 acres of land. He has studied upto Pre-university. He sought adventure right from his childhood. During 1990, his sugarcane field was infested by internode borer. At that time, a Tamil Nadu Agriculture University Scientist supplied parasites to farmers for control of this borer. The quantity of parasites he received from the university was sufficient to cover only 5 acres. Therefore he was unable to release parasites in the remaining 35 acres of land. He was wondering why cant he himself produce the parasites and release them in his field. With this idea, he approached Dr.S.Jeyaraj, Professor of Entomology and told him of his interest in breeding the parasites for his field. Then he got an opportunity to undergo training in ICAR laboratory in Coimbatore and Bangalore on production of bio-control agents for controlling crop pests. He set up his lab in his village for breeding these bio-control agents. Initially he has undertaken breeding of parasites and predators identified by the scientists. On seeing his success of Bio-control production laboratory, Govt. of India visited his unit and later on in 1994, the Government approved the establishment of 8 Bio-control laboratries in different parts of the country. The Govt. has released Rs.1 crore for establishing 8 Bio-control labs across the country. Unfortunately he could not get any financial assistance for strengthening his laboratory. However, to date no help has been received from the Govt. side. However he was able to effectively demonstrate his success using predators and parasites for control of crop pests. Farmers have given supply orders for the release of predators and parasites. With the income earned from farmers he was employing some local youth for large scale production of bio-control agents. Identifying new bio-control agentsWith his hard work and curiosity he started looking for new bio-control agents for the common pests which were difficult to control in chemical methods based on the farmers reports. He has identified the following bio-control agents and also standardised the production methodology : 1. For control Castor semi-looper - Trichogramma accii2. Sugar cane Pyrilla - Africaria parasite3. Coconut Slug caterpiller - Reduvid bug (Rhinocaris marginatus)He has also recorded for the first time the predator- Canthiogonam species. He is the first person in India to commercialise bio-control agents. In 1993 he had registered with the Bio-control Research Foundation. Without any government support he has been continually producing bio-control agents and selling it to farmers. 2 years ago, there was a severe outbreak of Eriophyid mite in coconut. The production of coconut trees has been affected. Farmers association has represented even directly to the Prime Minister of India about the incidence of Eriophyid mite and the devastation it causes to coconut growers. Even ICAR Research Institutes and University Centers tried hard to isolate predators of this mite, but they could not succeed. With intense work he was able to isolate predators which acted upon the Eriophyid mite. Actually a girl labourer who has been working on daily wages has identified this predator. He was very proud of this girls findings. The predators he has identified are 1. Anthocorid bug, 2. Amplicius mite, 3. Predatory Thrips,4. Staphylinidae Beetle.He has observed that these above predators are very small in size and able to entire the calyx region of the nut and thereafter able to eat the Eriophyid mites. (Underneath this calyx region this predator was able to lay eggs and colonize. Such predators also migrate from one tree to another. He founds that releasing predators is the only remedy for the coconut growers for control of Eriophyid mite.) He is charging Rs.50 for releasing predators over 10 trees. He releases 20-30 predators for one tree. He and his son are traveling through out Tamil Nadu for releasing bio-control agents. He has so far released predators for 1000 coconut trees. Farmers are convinced of its effectiveness. He has been getting supply orders from throughout India. His annual turnover is Rs.10 lakhs. In spite of this still he is keeping only thatched shed for mass multiplication of bio-control agents. He does not have good quality equipment. He is in need of a digital video camera which magnifies the size of the bio-control agents so that he can provide publicity and awareness among farmers by showing video films on bio-control agents. He has been invited by the Bangaladesh Govt. for control of a paddy pest for which they have identified a predator. His help has been requested for standardizing mass multiplication methods for predators identified by them. He could not go over there as he has to closely supervise his own Bio-control unit at his village i.e. Sithar near Erode. He does not want to leave it under anybodys supervision, which is crucial for rearing them and feeding them. He feels that the Govt. or University has not so far recognised his outstanding work and not received any award or financial support for strengthening a decades research work. |
Honey Bee Network Knowledge & Innovation Database (HBNKIND)