By: Nurul Ezzaty Mohd Azhari
Photo: Noor Azreen Awang
SERDANG, Dec 22 – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has successfully produced an organic plant pest insecticide known as Milagro Matado as an alternative to chemical pesticides in agricultural areas.
Milagro Matado is a formulation of plant extracts from neem seeds and kaduk leaves (piper sarmentosum) that is highly effective against pest attacks.
Head of the research group, Ts. Dr Norhayu Asib, from the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, UPM, said the organic pesticide formulation is harmless to humans and does not pollute the environment.
"The effectiveness of the combined extract formulation has been tested in rice, chilli, eggplant, and leafy vegetable farms, and the formulation has been proven harmless towards humans and the environment.
"Spraying the mixture of the plant extract emulsion with water on plants can effectively control pests without harming the plants, the farmers and the consumers," she said.
This product is marketed through UPM's collaboration with Syarikat Haji Mat Haji Jantan.
The innovative product has also won a gold medal in the International Invention, Innovation, and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2022 and the International Higher Education Institution Invention Conference and Expo 2022. -UPM
