Development and Promotion of Non-POPs Alternatives to DDT
The neem plant (Azadirachta indica) and its derived products have shown a variety of insecticidal properties on a broad range of insect species. Neem products exhibited a wide range of effects that are potentially useful for malaria control and include antifeedant, ovicidal activity, fecundity suppression, insect growth regulation and repellency. These effects are frequently attributed to the azadirachtin active ingredient of the products (Ghosh et al., 2012).
Larval control using neem seed powder offers a sustainable additional tool for malaria vector control. The most effective way to use is to apply seed extract/neem oil to breeding sites when larval population are comparatively lower, during the dry season, in order to eradicate as many immature mosquitoes as possible and reduce the population available for breeding when conditions become more favourable. Once the rainy season commences, regular applications of seed extract/neem oil should continue to prevent immature mosquitoes from emerging as adults. Considering the wide distribution and availability of neem and its products along the country, this may prove as a readily available and cheap alternative as conventional larvicides (Gianotti R. L. et al., 2008).
Global Environment Facility (GEF) initiated the project with the objective “To introduce bio-and botanical pesticides and other locally appropriate cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to DDT as first step for reduction and eventual elimination of dependency on DDT, ensuring food safety, enhancing livelihood and protecting human health and the environment” and assigned to UNIDO (United Nation Industrial Development Organisation) under project component “Alternatives to vector control” for expected component ‘Gradually decreased use of DDT on the basis of availability of locally appropriate cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to DDT ready for enhancement to large scale production’. With UNIDO support five formulations of neem have been developed viz. Suspension Concentrate (SC), Spreading Oil (SO) formulation, tablet formulation, neem mosquito coil and neem cream (Personal protection).