NBRDA develops bioinsecticide to tackle fungi attack on ginger- DG
By Sylvester Thompson
The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) is developing a bioinsecticide to combat fungi attack on ginger, which has contributed to its scarcity and costly market value.
Bioinsecticide is a type of biopesticide that uses natural substances, like bacteria, fungi, or viruses, to control or kill insect pests.
They offer an environmental friendly alternative to synthetic chemical insecticides by targeting specific pests and reducing harm to beneficial insects and the environment.
Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of NBRDA, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
He said a team of vibrant scientists, the Young Researchers Forum (YRF) has been working tirelessly on the project to solve the ginger fungus problem.
NAN reports that the YRF is a group of scientists and professionals drawn from various departments of the NBRDA, and was set up by the present director general on assumption of duty.
Mustapha, who called the fungi attack on ginger an agricultural problem, decried the huge monetary resources Nigeria was losing as a result of the menace.
He said farmers in Kaduna and other ginger-growing areas of Nigeria were reluctant to grow the plant, which often serves as a spice and folk medicine, due to attacks by fungi or microorganisms.
The NBRDA boss said that the agency, which is committed to implementing government policies, had analysed samples they collected and hence, were aware of the type of microorganism that infested the plant.
He disclosed that it was necessary to put up a demonstration plot in the affected areas, worst hit by the attack, to test the effectiveness of the product.
Mustapha said they intended to ascertain that the bioinsecticide they were developing would be effective from inception to the maturity stage.
“This is the research that is before us, and it is very important in the country.
“We have the bioinsecticide, and it’s just to go ahead with the testing field trial to make sure that we have gotten the right combination on how to solve this menace,’’ he said.
Mustapha said that to test the effectiveness of the product, they would use it on the trial field either from inception, or while the ginger is growing, or at the maturity stage.
According to him, research is not something that happens at the blink of an eye, nor is it a two-year endeavour; rather, it is something that has no timeline.
“Your timeline could be one year, but it may take you 10 years, but before then, you may get a result, but it’s on rare occasions,’’ he said. (NAN)
Edited by Joseph Edeh
Published By
- Agriculture and Environment Desk Controller/Website Content Manager.
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