Introduction

CIKS has been working with several plant products and also experimenting to test the efficacy of these plant products against different pests in farmers’ fields. Different parts of the plants such as seeds, leaves, seed cake extract etc. have been found to control a wide range of pests. All these experiments have involved use of fresh extracts. However, it is important to develop ready to use biopesticides. This is because farmers are used to pesticides which are packaged and available from the shelf. Even though farmers realize the importance of using plant products as alternatives to chemical pesticides a wide spread use of these plant products will take a while to become very popular. One of the ways by which they can be popularized is to process it and make it available to the farmers. Processing of plant products has three distinct advantages.

Developing storage forms of Biopesticides will go a long way towards popularizing their use by farmers, hence reducing the use of chemicals.

The farmers have a readymade alternative like that of the pesticides. Here the additional advantage is that it is a natural pesticide.

• The natural pesticide is available for them all through the year and all the seasons. Even if this particular plant is not available immediately he has the plant products.
• Besides all these advantages this can also prove to be an income generating programme for small entrepreneurs in the village.

Keeping all these in mind this project is being implemented for the preparation of storage forms of biopesticides based on ayurvedic principles.

Demonstration on Arkam Preparation .

Objectives of the Project

• Setting up an Insect Rearing Laboratory where specific identified insects of interest can be reared under laboratory conditions.
• Short-listing of plants and plant products to be taken up for detailed study based on quick screening procedures in the Insect Rearing Laboratory and traditional practices of farmers.
• Quantitative studies on efficacy of plant products and other various formulations.
• Quantitative studies on shelf life of various storage forms of preparations.
• Confirmation of biological efficacy by field testing using experiments in the field.

   

• An insect rearing net cage at Sirkazhi. The reared insects are used for conducting bioassay tests of the biopesticides.

Activities implemented and under implementation

Insect rearing lab at Sirkazhi - Staff involved in bioassay on army worms .

• Insect rearing laboratory has been established at Sirkazhi. Tobacco caterpillar, pulse aphids and Epilachna beetles have been reared under laboratory condition.
• Visits were made to Department of Entomology, U.A.S, Bangalore and, Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chidambaram to discuss the technical issues regarding rearing techniques and bioassay procedures.
• Literature survey was done to shortlist the plants for further detailed study
• Rearing techniques for the following are standardized and cultures are maintained continuously under laboratory conditions.
  • Army worm – Spodoptera litura on both natural and artificial diet.
  • Aphids – Aphis craccivora – in plants
  • Epilachna beetle – Epilachna vigintia octopunctata - in plants
  • Tobacco caterpillar

Insect rearing cage .

 

• Efficacy of Andrographis kashayam and other plant-based preparations has been tested on Tobacco caterpillar under laboratory conditions.
• Efficacy of neem oil soap solution has been tested on Aphids using bioassay techniques under laboratory conditions.
• Kshaaram have been prepared using Calotropis gigantia, Adathoda vasica and tested under laboratory conditions against pulse aphids.
• Field experiments have been conducted for Aphids, Epilachna beetles and leaf folder at Agani and Allivilagam village.
• pH for various kashayams has been recorded using pH meter to find the range of values based on shelf life..
• In Spodoptera litura bioassays are conducted by leaf disc and topical application methods. Efficacy of Andrographis kashayam with different shelf life, Sida acuta kashayam Datura strumarium fruit extract and green chilli fruit extract has been tested on Spodoptera.
• In Aphids (Aphis craccivora) bioassays are conducted by Ninhydrin and bouquet methods. Efficacy of Neem oil soap solution and Andrographis kashayam has been tested on Aphids.
• In Epilachna beetle bioassays are conducted by Leaf disc method. Efficacy of Jatropa curcas kashayam and Crotons sparsiflorus kashayam has been tested on Epilachna.
• A net house for rearing leaf folder and epilachna beetle under control conditions has been constructed.
• Bioassay techniques for aphids have been standardized. 

TRAINING PROGRAMMES

• Seven training programmes on preparation of biopesticides and pest management were conducted for the members of SHG’s from different villages. A total of 227 participants from nine villages participated in these training programmes. They were trained on collection of plants, preparation and storage techniques of biopesticides.
• Training programmes on biopesticide preparation and vermicompost production were conducted for the farmers of Pazhayagaram, Kattur, Pulianthurai and Poompukar villages at Agani.

Practical demonstration of biopesticide preparation .

BIOPESTICIDE UNITS

A women SHG was selected and trained on preparation of biopesticides. In Agani, CIKS has a biopesticide unit, where two SHG women are working and teaching farmers, rural women, agriculture college students on preparation of biopesticides using different plants such as Neem, Adhatoda, Vitex, Sweet flag, etc.  Trained women have now started to prepare and sell biopesticides in their own villages. Recently two biopesticides units have been started in Sitthivinayagapuram and Allivilagam villages in Sirkazhi.

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