Foldscope is an instrument giving new direction to agriculture and animal husbandry in Chhattisgarh

On the special initiative of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, new innovations are being made every day to make farming advanced and profitable in Chhattisgarh. Farmers are constantly being encouraged to use advanced agricultural equipment and adopt scientific methods, the meaningful results of which are also beginning to emerge. Chhattisgarh is an agriculture-based state. More than 70 percent of the population here is dependent on farming. Agriculture is also the axis of Chhattisgarh’s economy. To make Chhattisgarh prosperous and happy, the Chhattisgarh government is giving every possible help to the farmers.

In Chhattisgarh, farmers are being motivated and encouraged to use Foldscope microscope with the aim of managing crop pests and promoting high-breed animal husbandry. In collaboration with the National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, portable microscopes called “Foldscope” have been distributed to farmers in 20 districts of the state, with the aim of empowering farmers with scientific techniques in farming and animal husbandry. This program, spread over more than 30 villages in Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Raipur, Dhamtari, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagadh Chowki, Korea, Surguja, Jashpur, Korba, Sakti, Mahasamund, Bilaspur, Mungeli, Kabirdham, Bemetara, Kanker and Bastar districts, is being implemented by ICAR – National Institute of Biotic Stress Management.

The Foldscope is an affordable and portable microscope developed by Indian-American scientist Professor Manu Prakash and his team at Stanford University. It was launched in 2014 and has since been used for education, research and diagnosis. This device is extremely useful and affordable in the field of agriculture and scientific research. Foldscope is being used by farmers for pest and disease detection, soil quality testing and water analysis. With its help, powdery mildew, leaf blight, leaf spot and post-harvest diseases are being identified in crops. So far, 16 types of fungal diseases and their causative organisms have been identified with the help of Foldscope. For example, pathogens such as Golovinomyces cichoros-acearum and Erysiphe polygoni have been detected. Foldscope is not limited to farming but is also being used in animal husbandry. It has been used to assess the quality of semen for artificial insemination of cattle. This has led to improved conception rates and better grading of native cattle breeds.

The Foldscope has also been used to test five organic pesticides and two bioagents. This is helping in reducing dependence on chemicals and promoting eco-friendly farming. The idea of ​​making Foldscope came when Professor Manu Prakash visited the fields and found that the unavailability of scientific equipment was a major obstacle for farmers. He developed a device that is cheap, durable and ideal for use in rural areas. Foldscope has made agriculture and animal husbandry simple and scientific for the farmers of Chhattisgarh. This device is not only reducing the cost of farming but also helping in increasing their income by improving the quality of crops and cattle.