Regular Update
ATM News Network: Indian citizens are involved in all fields like industry, education, technology, science, sports and many others. MNCs have Indians or citizens of Indian origin working at senior positions. One such award has been given to an Indian student in the field of research. The trainee student not only represented India in the science and engineering meeting of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, held in Atlanta, USA, but also won a prize of 1000 US dollars i.e. about 83 thousand rupees.
Sarvesh Prabhu, a 17-year-old research trainee at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, represented India at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta. In this, Sarvesh has got the third prize. He has developed a cost-effective bio-pesticide from Bull's heart (Annona reticulata) leaves known as Ramphal.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research of the Union Ministry of Science and Technology has honoured Sarvesh Prabhu with an award of one lakh rupees for outstanding research. Sarvesh is currently studying at FIITJEE Junior College, Hyderabad. Earlier this year, Survesh conducted research experiments at the Institute's India headquarters in the Department of Entomology. Observations from this research were presented at the world's largest collegiate science fair in Atlanta, USA.
Deputy Director General of Research Department of the Institute Dr. Arvind Kumar said that the organisation encourages youth to participate in agricultural research. Since its inception, the Institute has provided multidisciplinary guidance to more than 7000 trainee students and scholars, providing world-class facilities for research.
A project titled 'New study of bioinsecticidal properties of Anona reticulata' demonstrated its bioinsecticidal properties. Extracts of different parts of this plant are traditionally used to treat various diseases. Studies have shown that extracts of bull's heart leaves can be effective against three destructive insects.
By killing beneficial insects using chemical pesticides and contaminating soil, food, the cost of cultivation increases to US$ 24-50 per acre. On the other hand bio-pesticides cost between US$ 9-12 per acre of crop land. Bio-pesticides provide environment friendly and healthy produce. The cost of producing insecticide from ox heart leaves is US$ 0.33 per litre. This makes it an affordable pesticide for smallholder farmers. Also an additional source of income is generated through the sale of fruits and leaves for bio-pesticide extracts for human consumption.
