Kerala Agricultural University’s innovative training and production programme for a tribal women self-help group : Earning a living from a biocontrol agent and growth promoter – Kerala

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E.M. Manoj, The Hindu KALPETTA (Wayanad, Kerala), February 27, 2015

Inspired by their success in the production of biocontrol agents and bio-fertilizers, members of Sabari, a tribal women self-help group (SHG) of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) under Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) at Ambalavayal in the district, are planning to repeat the success story in the production of the liquid form of pseudomonas culture, which is easier to use.

The university is producing the liquid form of pseudomonas, a biocontrol agent used against crop diseases and as a growth promoter for plants, for the first time on a commercial scale, Reshmy Vijayaraghavan, Assistant Professor, plant pathology, KVK, who is supervising the project, says.

The 10 members of the Sabari in the Nellarachal tribal colony were guided towards the biotechnology venture by A. Radhamma Pillai, former head of the KVK during a filed visit in 2004.

Later, the KVK trained them for six months in fungal and bacterial culture and packing.

The group produced 10.24 tonnes of trichoderma, a biocontrol agent to fight quick wilt disease afflicting pepper vines, and 9.1 tonnes of pseudomonas fluorescence last year. Under a Memorandum of Understanding with the university, the group will get 35 percentage of the income. “Last year we earned Rs.3.02 lakh from the venture,” K. Sharmila, secretary, Sabari SHG, says. […]

Source: Tribal foray into biotechnology – IN SCHOOL – The Hindu
Address: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/tribal-foray-into-biotechnology/article6938352.ece
Date Visited: Fri May 27 2016 20:38:34 GMT+0200 (CEST)

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