Hyderabad-based Coromandal Biotech Industries (India) Limited signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), New Delhi, for transfer of biolarvicide technology using Bacillus Thuringiensis var isaeiensis (BTi) strain VCRC B17, in Hyderabad on Thursday. | |
| Bacillus Thuringiensis is typically a pathogenic, spore-forming and rod-shaped aerobic bacteria used in controlling proliferation of mosquitoes "� Aedies, Anopheles, Culex and other species at the larvae stage "� that spread dengue, chikungunya, malaria, filaria and Japanese encephalitis. |
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| The bacteria is produced from renewable energy sources unlike chemical larvicides that cause depletion of petroleum resources. The biolarvicide technology has been developed by Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC), Pondicherry. |
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| Briefing mediapersons after signing the MoU, D Mallikarjun Reddy, managing director of Coromandal Biotech, said that the company was setting up a processing plant to take up large-scale production of biolarvicide at Renigunta near Tirupati, involving an investment of around Rs 70 lakh. |
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| "Initially, the plant will have the capacity to manufacture 100 tonnes of biolarvicide. Depending on the response and demand for the product, we intend to scale up our investments to Rs 1 crore," he said. The company expects the manufacturing plant to go on stream by March 2007. |
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| According to Reddy, the company was initiating aggressive strategies to market the bio-pesticide. "We are currently in talks with all the corporations, municipalities and mandal revenue offices to prove the effectiveness of this technology, and are awaiting in-principle approvals from the state government for supply of the bio-pesticide," he said. |
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| The company expects the biolarvicide technology to contribute Rs 10 crore to its turnover in the first year. |
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