Niku Bio-Res
Lab, Pune
(General Information and objectives)
The Niku
Bio Res.Lab.was established in the year 1997 at 613, Nana Peth, Pune. The name itself
signifies N=Natural, I=Input, K=Complete and U=Utilisation. In short Niku means complete
utilization of natural inputs for enhancement of crop yields. The main objects of this
laboratory include: -
- To manufacture best quality
biofertilizers and make them available to farmers at very reasonable price.
- To provide a suitable technology for
sugar factories to convert the press mud and spent wash into a good compost.
- To supply efficient decomposing
cultures to sugar factories.
- To provide consultancy service to
Municipalities to convert city garbage into best organic matter.
- To extend new technology to farmers
through farmers rallies, radio talks and T.V. programme.
- To produce best quality vermiculture
and supply to farmers.
- To identify plant diseases and suggest
suitable control measures.
- I To identify fungal cultures and
supply them to colleges.
- To provide consultancy service to green
houses and tissue culture laboratories in respect of diseases.
- To multiply biological control agent
like Trichoderma sp and provide it to farmers to use.
In order to fulfill the above objects the laboratory is managed by experts viz.
Dr. P.L.Patil senior research Director and biofertilizer expert and Dr.V.G.Rao Plant
pathologist. Under their able guidance the production of biofertilizer and plant disease
identification service is managed efficiently. Besides, the laboratory has marketing
expert like Mr.B.K.Shah who has long experience of marketing many products. The laboratory
also seeks advice from experienced person like for V.S.Khuspe, ex Vice Chancellor
Dr.B.C.Patil ex. Dean, Dr.B.B.More ex Associate Dean and many others who can be available
at any time for discussion.
Presently laboratory
manufactures following important types of biofertilizers.
- Rhizonik
: All types of Rhizobium
species infecting cultivating crops. There are seven cross inoculation groups all are
available for sale used for legume crops.
- Azonik (Azotobacter chroococcum
):
It is non-symbiotic bacteria used for all cereals.
- Spironik (Azospirillum brazilense)
: It is associative symbiont and most useful for grasses and similar type of crops.
- Phosphonive (Phosphate solubilizing
inoculant
): This includes bacteria as well as fungi under field condition they
solubilize "P" and provide to plants.
- Sulphonik (Sulphur oxidising inoculant)
:
This biofertilizer includes bacteria and also fungi. The inoculant enhances the
availability of sulphur under field condition.
- Phospho-Sulphonik
: In this unique
type of biofertilizer both the types are equally mixed thereby crops are benefited.
- Niku-2000- (Decomposing culture)
:
This inoculant degrades all cellylolytic and lignolutic organic matter thereby releasing
nutrients to plants.
- Trichonik (Trichoderma viridi)
: It
is biological control agent. This biofertilizer restricts the growth of disease producing
organism under field condition.
- Vermiculture
: Best quality
vermiculture is produced and it is mixed with N-fixing inoculant and ‘P’
solublizers so that nutrient value is increased.
Annually the laboratory produces roughly 100-125 tonnes of biofertilzers and
supplied to different agencies. We have marketing net work which includes distributors in
every district place and appointed of salesmen.
The Govt of India have recently sanctioned an amount of Rs. 20.00 lakhs as
grantin-aid to equip the laboratory and enhance production upto 150 tonnes per year. This
grant will be used up for adding modern equipments such as fermenter, automatic filling
and bagging machine and laminar flow cabinate. Our laboratory is one of best laboratories
in the state as far as expertise is concerned and also the quality of biofertilizers.
Future plans: We have plants to add to the list of biofertilizers
manufactured by us e.VA.mycorrhizae Azolla and blue green algae. Besides we want to
increase the production of biofertilzers upto 500 tonnes annually. It will be possible
since Govt of India have sanctioned an amount of Rs. 20.00 lakhs (twenty lakhs) for
purchase of equipments and also the inputs.
ISI mark: At present ISI (Bureau of Indian Standards) mark is only for
Rhizobium and Azotobacter. We have received ISI mark for Rhizobium and Azotobacter.
We want to insist other manufacturers too to get ISI mark so that farmers can get good
quality biofertilzer. We are persuading state governt to bring the quality control act
like fertilizer control act so also implement licence requirement etc. At present there is
no quality testing laboratory in the state and hence we have already written for Dept of
Agri. to establish such laboratory in the state. |
