India：CSMU touts their microbial product

In a major breakthrough, a scientist of microbiology department at Chhattrapati Shahuji Maharaj University (CSMU) has successfully developed a microbial product (or a bio-formulation) which has dual properties of bio-fertiliser and a bio-pesticide. Thus, this formulation is capable of not only increasing the crop yield but also protecting the crops from the pests.

Naveen Arora, head of microbiology department, who has developed the microbial product, told TOI that this bio-formulation has been developed with the help of micro-organisms found in the soil.

After three successful trials of this unique product, Arora applied for the patent of the processed technology used in making the formulation in January. The filling of the second patent in the category of developing the microbial product is in process. Harsh Kumar Seghal, V-C, Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University, when asked about the research being done by Naveen Arora, said, "The research is of a high quality which can be very useful for agriculturists in our country. Initial experiments indicate that we can increase the production of organic produce and also generate nitrogen rich fertilizers which can reduce farmers' dependence on urea."