DU scientists invent biopesticide to cut farmers' pest prevention costs

Dhaka University (DU) scientists have invented new biopesticide from bacteria which can help farmers cut pest prevention cost by a half as the newly invented environment friendly pesticide could bring harmful chemical pesticide use at zero-level.

The biopesticide will also help consumers to get chemical free crops including cereal and vegetables like aubergine, the researchers at the Microbiology Department and the Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences (CARS) under DU said.

The research team headed by Prof Dr Mozammel Hoq has developed the biopesticide under their pesticide research programme.

The same team has also recently invented ways on how to make enzymatic bating agent or Proteas enzyme and de-hairing enzyme or Keratinase enzyme used in tannery and poultry industry.

"We have made the pesticide from Bacillus Thuringiencis bacteria. The bacteria has been produced through a special methodology" Dr Hoq said.

The pesticide has been used experimentally on aubergine, cabbage, cauliflower, and few other vegetables where we found very positive result.

The field experiments showed that the pesticide prevents harmful pests of aubergine and other vegetables, he confirmed.

"Poisonous and harmful chemicals are entering our food-chain due to use of harmful pesticide which is alarming for human, livestock, fisheries as well as for the environment", he said.

"Use of this biopesticide can help remove chemical pollution in our food-chain", he said.

Dr Hoq said: "Nearly 300 varieties of isolated bacteria have been found in soil, water and tree leaves of our country; lab and field experiments have been completed."

Other members of the research team are Prof Dr Shakila Nargis Khan, Asaduzzaman Sisir, Arafat Al Mamun, Md Nahinur Rahman Akand and Nusrat Khandker.

Chairman of Subaltern Communication Research Centre and agriculture expert Delowar Jahan said Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is commonly used as a biological pesticide in many countries.

"During sporulation, many Bt strains produce crystal proteins which have insecticide action. This has led to their use as insecticides and interestingly to genetically modified (GMO) crops like Bt aubergine or Bt cotton" he said.

Md Delwar said Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has sought permission to cultivate poisonous Bt aubergine at farmers' level without any experiment over its consequences which is alarming.

"The newly invented pesticide by the DU scientists can be used in Aubergine field. There is no need to plant Bt aubergine as an excuse for preventing bugs."

He also emphasised on patent criteria saying that the farmers must have easy access to the pesticide.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the country used nearly 11000 tonnes of chemical pesticide in 1998-99 which has increased to above 49000 tonnes in 2012-13.

Sources at the DAE said the country's total expenditure on chemical pesticide for cropping purpose, most of which is imported, is more than Tk 20 billion.