ICAR-CCRI and HPCL inks MoU for Study on Horticulture Mineral Oil in Citrus Pest Management

24^th February 2025, Nagpur

ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Mumbai, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly conduct a project titled ‘Residual Analysis and Bio-efficacy Study of HP HMO Against Insect Pests of Mandarin and Acid Lime in Four Agro-climatic Zones of India.’ The MoU was formalized today, at HPCL’s headquarters in Mumbai, in the presence of Dr Dilip Ghosh, Director, ICAR-CCRI, and Shri Ch. Srinivas, Executive Director, HPCL, along with senior officials from both organizations.

Dr Ghosh emphasized the importance of this collaboration, noting that the project will provide crucial scientific data on HP HMO's efficacy, offering an eco-friendly solution to pest management while supporting sustainable citrus farming practices in India.

The collaborative research project aims to evaluate HP HMO, a water-emulsifiable horticulture mineral oil, as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional insecticides in managing citrus pests. The study will assess its bio-efficacy, residue levels, and phytotoxicity in mandarin and acid lime orchards across four agro-climatic zones: Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu/Karnataka.

The Principal Investigator for the project, Dr Naresh Meshram, Senior Scientist (Entomology) at ICAR-CCRI, will lead the trials and data analysis. The project aims to tackle the challenges posed by insect pests in citrus cultivation, focusing on minimizing pesticide resistance, environmental contamination, and harm to beneficial organisms.

This partnership marks a significant step toward reducing pesticide dependence and advancing sustainable agricultural practices in India’s citrus industry.

(Source: ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur)