Dr. H. Purushotham Chairman & Managing Director, National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), an Enterprise of the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi informed through the press release that NRDC and M/s Siddaganga Oil & Bio Industries Tumkuru, Karnataka have entered into License Agreement for commercialization of Mosquito Larvicidal formulation of Bacillus Thuringiensis Var. Israelensis, an aquesous suspension for killing mosquito at larval stage developed by VCRC,Pondicherry, a laboratory under ICMR,Ministry of Health, Govt. of India.
Mosquito Larvicidal formulation of Bacillus Thuringiensis Var. Israelensis is proven bio-control agents and has come to be recognized as one of the prime candidates against the larvae of several mosquito species such as Aedes, Anopheles, Culex etc. Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis is extremely safe to associated aquatic organisms like copepods, beetles, fishes etc.and beneficial insects like honeybees and silkworms.
Extensive field trials as per CIB guidelines have been conducted by the laboratory.The residual activity of the formulation was assessed as per the protocol described by WHO (2005). CIB has already given permanent registration under section 9(3) of Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) for production of the larvicide, which is mandatory.
NRDC has so far licensed this technology to 17 companies in India and contributing to Start up India and Make In India Programme of Government.