Herbal pest solution devised in India

An agricultural worker from Tamil Nadu in India has devised a herbal pest repellent, it has emerged.

K M Chellamuthu, who believes his illness was caused by years of exposure to chemical pesticides, has devised a herbal alternative which 20 villages in the region are currently utilising, reports The Hindu.

"For nearly a decade, my work involved spraying these toxics on other people's fields […] and about three years ago I suffered a severe paralytic stroke which left me bedridden," he told the news provider.

The ingredients of Mr Chellamuthu's pesticide include garlic, ginger, green chilies and tobacco. He tried it on his uncle's crop before locals began to notice the difference and purchase the product from him for 50 INR (69p) per bottle.

Meanwhile, Thailand's National Innovation Agency, along with the country's natural pesticide producers, have urged the government to remove plant-based pesticides from its list of hazardous substances, the Bangkok Post reports.