The Hindu Business Line : `Bio-control Act need of the hour'

Stating that such an Act has been in force in Australia since 1995, he said, "The Act is necessary to regulate the bio-control system, especially when policy-makers attempt to remove barriers in production and commercialisation, and when IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) issues arise."

Addressing the bio-control workers' croup meeting here, he said that the use of bio-control agents and bio-pesticides was still insignificant, accounting for a mere 2 per cent of the world pesticide market. "Multiplication of bio-control agents in adequate quantities, therefore, assumes importance for thelarge scale spread of this eco-friendly technology," he said and called upon scientists to identify new bio-control agents.

At present, 128 SMEs are engaged in the production of bio-control agents in the country. A majority are said to be start-ups and lack economies of scale in production. The Vice-Chancellor has stressed the need for large-scale units to ensure production quality.

The Assistant Director General (Plant Protection), ICAR, New Delhi, Dr T.P. Rajendran, called upon researchers to develop bio-control agents for weed management.

He noted that the poor water quality in bio-control production units in villages was both a concern and challenge, as it adversely affected the bio-control organisms. He said the use of prediction models would help forecast the arrival of pests.

The Project Director of PDBC (Project Directorate on Biological Control), Dr R.J. Rabindra said a new bio-control agent for coconut pest was ready for multi-location trials.

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