Schoolchildren develop cheaper, organic pesticide
D. R. Vij
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031229/haryana.htm#5

Kurukshetra, December 28
Students of Maharana Pratap Public School, here under the guidance of
science teacher, Suresh Kumar, prepared eco-friendly bio-
insecticide ‘CODAAK’ using plants of the Congress Grass (parthenium
Hysterophorus), Dhatura (Datura Stramonium) and Aak (Calotropis
Procera).

The National Council of Educational Research and Training, Department
of Education in Science and Mathematics, Head and Professor, Dr R. D.
Shukla, has appreciated student ‘success and informed the school
Principal Mrs Annie Philip that the exhibit of her school, at the
30th Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Exhibition for Children
(JNNSEC) – 2003 at Dehradun from November 17 to November 22, 2003,
had been identified as one of the best exhibits. Now, the teacher and
students associated with this project will participate in
the ‘Science for Schoolchildren Programme’, organised by Science
Congress, Institute of Microbial Technology, in Chandigarh from
January 3 to January 7, 2004.

School team’s another exhibit ‘Organic Farming’, displayed at
29th
JNNSEC – 2002, at Hyderabad from November 26 to December 1, 2002, was
also selected for the ‘Science Exhibition for Children Programme’ at
Bangalore University, Karnataka from January 3 to January 7, 2003.

School’s science teacher, Suresh Kumar, — a B.Sc., B.Ed., Diploma in
Electrical Engineering and doing M.Sc. in Biotechnology (through
correspondence), says that he had an idea that if some insecticides
can repel insects from human skin then an insecticide from poisonous
plants can be made to keep insects away from plants. His team started
working on this idea and succeeded in making ‘CODAAK INSECTICIDE’
—
an extract of poisonous plants (Congress Grass, Dhatura and Aak)
obtained by distillation. One litre of ‘CODAAK INSECTICIDE’ with 20
litres of water, will make a solution. Which can be sprayed on crop
and vegetable plants to keep insects away.

Mr Suresh Kumar, with farming background, says to test the product he
selected corner of a cotton field in his village Brah Kalan, Jind
district and sprayed ‘CODAAK INSECTICIDE’ on the plants, which after
a fortnight, were found to be free from any ailment compared to other
cotton plants in the field which were affected by white fly and bug
of cotton plants. His team is trying the product on other plants and
calculating the cost of its large scale manufacture.

According to a an estimate, 15 litres of ‘CODAAK INSECTICIDE’
solution is enough for an acre of crop and cost would be rupees four
only. It can be a cheap, effective and environment-friendly
insecticide, if improved on, adds Mr Suresh Kumar.

The equipment used to make CODAAK INSECTICIDE’ by distillation, is
indigenous and arranged from waste material from junk dealers save
the electricity meter used to calculate consumption of electricity
and electric heater used to boil made by grinding equal quantities of
raw material comprising Congress Grass, Dhatura and Aak.

School Principal Mrs Annie Philip, gives credit for this achievement
to Mr Suresh Kumar and students’ team comprising class VIII students,
Mr Pankhuri Arora Ms Sucheta and Ms Nisha Bura and class IX student,
Master Nishant Sharma.

She says that Mr Suresh Kumar is an ideal science teacher, always
keen on teaching children to think differently and creatively. The
achievement according to her is a culmination of dedicated work put
in by Mr Suresh Kumar and his team. She is all praise for Ms Pankhuri
for her effective presentation at various exhibitions.

Maharana Pratap Public School, an institution run by the Kshatriya
Sabha here is a little over 10 years old is known in the district for
academic excellence, adds Mrs Phillip.

School Manager Dr M.S. Chauhan says the school is poised for further
growth. He says that the school this year, moved to spacious campus
in the Urban Estate and class XI and class XII will be added on the
completion of buildings.