Phyto-insecticide from cassava leaves are molecules with pesticidal action against insect pests of various crops.
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram has licensed machinery and process for the extraction of three bioactive molecules from cassava leaves to a Tiruchirappalli-based company Green Edge Agri Imports Private Limited. Named Nanma, Menma and Shreya, they are molecules with pesticidal action against insect pests of various crops. While Menma is effective against the borer insect pests of banana and coconut, Nanma is effective against sucking insect pests like aphids, thrips, scale insects, mealybugs, and early instars of tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura). The third variant Shreyais effective in dissolving the mealy substance of the mealybug, thereby exposing the insect for control through other means.
Dr G. Byju, Director, ICAR-CTCRI and Elango, Director, M/S Green Edge signed the technology licensing form (TLF) in the presence of Praveen Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Agrinnovate India Ltd. (Agin), a ‘for profit’ company owned by the Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE), Government of India tasked with commercialising the technologies developed by ICAR Institutes.
Though these technologies were perfected more than a decade ago and proved very effective for the eco-friendly management of a variety of insect pests, this is the first time that the machinery and process are licensed to a company, said Dr Byju.
Dr Malik called for implementing a sustainable approach to commercialising the technologies through a long-term public-private partnership.
Dr C.A. Jayaprakas, Principal Scientist (Retd.) and principal inventor of the technologies, all scientists and technical staff involved with the project also witnessed the event.
