HIL to commercialise VCRC developed Bti Bio-Larvicide for mosquito vector control programs

New Delhi: Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Dr Mansukh Mandaviya during his visit to ICMR's VCRC Institute at Pondicherry on Saturday handed over the dossier and culture of VCRC developed Bti Bio-Larvicide (VCRC B17) to HIL (India) Limited, a PSU under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. HIL shall commercialise the VCRC Bti bio-larvicide technology and make it available to the national and state vector control programmes for the control of mosquito vectors. The dossier was received by HIL's Chairman and Managing Director Dr SP Mohanty along with Chief General Manager Shashank Chaturvedi. The event was attended by dignitaries from the Central and State Government, ICMR and NCVBDC. The event was also witnessed by the UNIDO's Dr Rene Ven Berkel, Dr YP Ramdev and Dr RS Sharma.

HIL has set up the Bti bio-larvicide manufacturing facility at its Rasayani Plant in Maharashtra with the financial assistance of GEF/UNIDO under the project "Development and Promotion of non-POP alternatives to DDT." India, being one of the signatories to the International treaty Stockholm Convention, is committed to reducing reliance on persistent organic pollutant chemicals like DDT. HIL is the sole manufacturer of DDT globally, which is used under malaria control programmes in India and Southern African countries. Under the GEF/UNIDO project, HIL has set up manufacturing units for Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN), Bti Bio-larvicide and Neem-based botanical insecticides. LLIN is already commercialised by HIL and the product is recently supplied to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Other products shall be available in Indian markets by early next year.

On the occasion, HIL CMD Dr Mohanty expressed gratitude to VCRC for the Bti technology and assured of its early commercialisation. He informed that the product is a perfect example under "Make in India" and an effort towards "Atmanirbhar Bharat" as the indigenously developed technology shall be commercialised by the governmental entity for the Indian market and exports. He urged the NCVBDC, the National agency under MoHFW, for early inclusion of the product in the programme so that the product can be made available to the national/state vector control programme and many other institutions like the defence establishment. HIL is associated with the National Vector Control Programme since its inception in 1954 and is committed to continuing its support to the Government of India's malaria elimination target of 2030.

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