Speaking to media following demonstration of the kit at the college, M. Shankar, Dean of the college, said that chlorpyrifos is used extensively in agriculture.
Its residues could join water sources such as ponds and rivers at any time, due to human activity. With this, fish cultured in ponds came into contact with this pesticide, reports TheHindu.
Those engaged in in-land fisheries, exporters, and fish consumers could use this kit for detecting the pesticide content.
He said the kit has been developed following a three-year research. It will take one more year for the field trial. Using the kit, a sample could be tested with in 10 minutes.
Mr Shankar said that if the technology was to reach consumers it would have to be transferred to a company for developing the kits. The company would have to conduct the field trial. The college would have to take steps for technology transfer.
The kit, which is yet to be named, was developed with funding from the Department of Biotechnology, Delhi and European Union, Brussels.
