Business

Lab to produce organic inputs

PALAKKAD: The Poabs Organic Estate at Nelliampathy near here has set up a state-of-the-art laboratory complex to produce organic inputs, as part of its efforts to promote organic farming.

Built at a cost of Rs.25 million, the complex, one of the major labs in the country in the field of organic faming, will commence production by January 2009. Director of Poabs Abraham Jacob said that the laboratory would ensure availability of quality organic inputs essential for meeting global quality specifications of end produces meant for export.

The products of the lab would include aazospirillum, azotobacter, rhizobium, phosphorous solubilizing microorganisms and bio-control agents like trichoderma, pseudomonas and bio-pesticides like beauveria, verticillium and metarhizium.

One of the most important roles of the lab would be to serve as a centre of training on all aspects of organic farming. The lab would help intensify studies on microbial biodiversity as a resource for production and processing of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides, Mr. Jacob said.

Effectiveness of bio-products on crop production and quality would get priority under the lab facility, which would have the approval of the Central and State funding agencies like the Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Science and Technology.

The lab complex is being commissioned at a time when organic farming is gaining acceptance with over 150 countries already having entered the production field.

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