Herbal Formulation for Tick Infestation

• 29 Mar 2022

Why in News?

Recently, the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) brought out a Herbal Formulation that has been found to be effective in combating tick infestation among dairy animals.

• The NIF collaborated with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research--National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana in the form of a Research Programme for field testing of Poly Herbal Medication.

What is Tick Infestation?

• The Ticks are harmful as blood sucking parasites severely affect productivity of dairy animals and a major economic impediment, welfare concern in dairy farming.
• Tick-Borne Pathogens (TBP) are a major source of production loss and a welfare concern in livestock across the globe.
• This causes tick worry, loss of appetite among animals causing reduction in milk production, thereby lessening farmers’ income.
  
  • These parasites are vectors of systemic protozoan infection, threat to dairy animal health & productivity.
• Presently, farmers rely on chemical acaricides that are costly, have to be used recurrently due to the nature of parasites.

What is the New Formulation?

• The NIF has developed, standardised a formulation comprising common herbal ingredients like Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Nagod (Vitex negundo).
  
  • These medicinal trees are widely known among indigenous communities, a common part of the medicinal system in treatment of various ailments.
• NIF’s polyherbal medication was found to demonstrate efficacy in field conditions and the development of technology-based on resources available in front of farm fields.
• The medicines’ successful demonstration will ensure cost-effective health care.

What is the National Innovation Foundation?

• It is an autonomous body which was set up in 2000 with the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology.
• It is India's national initiative to strengthen the grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge.
• Its mission is to help India become a creative and knowledge-based society by expanding policy and institutional space for grassroots technological innovators.
• It helps grassroot innovators and outstanding traditional knowledge holders get due recognition, respect and reward for their innovations

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs):

Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)? (2015)

1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government.
2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (a)

Source: PIB