Oil spray for pest control
New Delhi   28-Oct-2010

The IndianOil has developed a biodegradable oil spray for pest control. The oil is effective in a variety of crops including cotton, pulses, grains, mustard, groundnut, sugarcane, potato, tea, grapes, mango and apple.

It seems to be eco-friendly and leaves no toxic residues behind, unlike chemicals used for pest control. Farmers are not required to wear protective gear like masks and gloves while spraying and can fit very well with existing integrated pest management programmes. The innovation has won the R&D unit of the company CSIR Award for S&T Innovations for Rural Development. One hopes the laboratory would come up with similar eco- friendly spray for control of urban pests - dengue and malaria carrying mosquitoes.