Developed by the city-based Directorate of Oilseeds Research, BT (Bacillus thuringiensis), a bio-pesticide, will be showcased at the CoP-11 biodiversity conference, it was informed.

BT extract is used to kill pests such as pod borer, castor semi-looper and other insects that affect the rice crop, castor and pigeon pea and other oil seeds. Instead of transgenic crops, which give rise to serious apprehensions on bio-safety, scientists say the BT extract bio-pesticide is a safer alternative.

Demand to consider plea to write off loans

Hundreds of endosulfan victims in the district are awaiting news from the State government which has, in principal, agreed to implement the relief and rehabilitation packages suggested by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Hopes were raised after the visit of the three-member team of Ministers who held discussions with various agencies and organisations that have been fighting for the cause of the victims for years.

The potential cost of pesticide-related illnesses in sub-Saharan African between 2005 and 2020 could reach $90bn (£56bn), according to a UN report released on Wednesday highlighting the growing hea

In the lush fields of Punjab germinates a scary tale.

The State government is delaying the implementation of the rehabilitation package for endosulfan victims as directed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), P. Karunakaran, MP, has said.

Talking to mediapersons here on Saturday, Mr. Karunakaran said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had told him in Thiruvananthapuram on August 26 that a three-member Ministerial team would visit the district to sort out the confusion over the revised list of victims. The date of visit had been fixed as September 18. Any delay in the team’s visit would only aggravate the issue as the mothers of endosulfan victims had called off their 130-day agitation on August 27.

Displeased with its “vague” stand, the Supreme Court Friday told the Centre to clearly spell out by Monday if it wanted a country-wide ban on the use of endosulfan.

Formalin, a harmful chemical, has been found in fish being sold in the market, a study of the Central Food Laboratory said.

Irrational use of pesticides in lower Punjab and upper Sindh areas is found to be damaging environment as it has contaminated underground water, soil and even fruits and vegetables being grown ther