Kisan Kavach: India's First Indigenous Anti-Pesticide Bodysuit Launched
| Summary/Static | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in the news? | Kisan Kavach - Bharat's Indigenous Anti-Pesticide Bodysuit |
| Innovation Objective | Protects farmers from harmful pesticide exposure, addressing health issues like breathing disorders, vision loss, and fatalities. |
| Development | Created by BRIC-inStem, Bangalore, in collaboration with Sepio Health Pvt. Ltd. Supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). |
| Key Features | Washable and reusable (up to 1 year). Advanced fabric deactivates pesticides on contact. Priced at ₹4,000, plans for greater affordability with scaled-up production. |
| Scientific Basis | Fabric technology involves nucleophilic hydrolysis to deactivate pesticides via covalent attachment to cotton. Research published in Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49167-3). |
| Significance | Fills critical safety gap, protects farmers' health (65% of India's workforce), promotes sustainable agricultural practices. |
| Launch Event | First batch distributed to farmers. Attended by Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale (Secretary, DBT), Dr. Maneesha Inamdar (Director, BRIC-inStem), and Dr. Alka Sharma (Senior Adviser, DBT). |
| Government Focus | Focus on leveraging science and technology for societal good. Supports Modi government's BioE3 policies and India's biotech sector, targeting a $300 billion bioeconomy. |