TN plans to test IOC spray on state crops

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) and Indian Oil Corporation will be jointly conducting trials on the efficacy of Indian Oil’s farmer-friendly Agrospray oil in the state.

Indian Oil’s research and development center general manager S Ravichandran told Express on the sidelines of Confederation of Indian Industry’s conference on Agricultural Innovation in a Changing Farming Dynamics that trials are likely to be conducted on eight crops for a period of two years.

“Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has sent in a proposal in this regard and it is under discussion with top IOC officials,” Ravichandran said.

He said the focus of this trial which would be conducted on vegetables like ladies finger, Brinjal, Cauliflower and fruits like Mango and Banana  besides Turmeric and others is to find out the efficacy of the spray against pests and diseases in various crops prevalent in Tamil Nadu.

The Rs 40 lakh study would also ascertain whether the residue from the spray would remain in the crop and its impact on the environment. The trials are likely to be conducted in the various research stations of TNAU.

IndianOil’s SERVO Agrospray oil is a revolutionary pest control product that can help boost agricultural production in the country. It is environment friendly, non-toxic, bio-degradable and highly beneficial in diverse agricultural crops such as cotton, pulses, grains, mustard, groundnut, sugarcane, potato, tea, grapes, mango, apple, citrus fruits, etc. It is also highly effective in controlling certain plant diseases, said Ravichandran.

It is a paraffin based oil and all one has to do is mix it with water and use it, he said, adding that the spray kills the pests by forming a oil film on pest resulting in reduced oxyegen. In the same breath, Ravichandran added that the spray is not harmful for friendly pests and said it would result in a shift from conventional pesticide to biodegradable pesticide.