SHILLONG: The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has achieved a significant breakthrough in indigenous innovation with the development of a semiconductor chip designed to repel the ‘red spider mite’, a major pest affecting tea gardens in Northeast India and other tea-growing regions.
The chip, developed entirely at NEHU’s Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, is a technology-driven and eco-friendly solution aimed at reducing dependence on chemical pesticides and promoting ecological balance.
The collaborative research effort was led by Pankaj Sarkar, Sushanta Kabir Dutta, Sangeeta Das and Bhaiswajyoti Lahon.
The indigenous chip was formally handed over to the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology on November 28, marking a milestone for NEHU in the national semiconductor ecosystem.
The chip’s fabrication was undertaken at the Semiconductor Laboratory, Mohali, a premier Government of India facility for semiconductor manufacturing.
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“This innovation aligns with NEHU’s commitment to ‘Make in India’ and addressing region-specific challenges through cutting-edge research,” NEHU officials said.
Field-level testing and validation are planned to assess the chip’s practical deployment in tea gardens.
The red spider mite causes significant yield losses and deterioration in tea quality, posing a major challenge to the tea industry.
The developed chip offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative, benefiting tea growers and promoting ecological balance.
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