An innovative mosquito apparatus that mimics the human body, attracts mosquitoes and kills them without use of any harmful chemicals is set to hit the markets soon.
“Mozzquit” is one of the prize-winning products that was displayed at an exhibition on the occasion of the vision summit organised by the India Semiconductor Association here.
The product, priced at Rs 2,990, would be available in the market in two months, its brainchild, Igantius Orwin Noronha, Managing Director of Leowin Solutions Pvt Ltd, told agency.
Noronha claimed Mozzquit is effective even in an area of 10,000 square feet, provided there are no “wall barriers” (without pillars). It attracts, traps and kills harmful mosquitoes and does not use harmful chemicals such as those found in other products.
“It’s not a repellent. The apparatus attracts and kills mosquitoes instantly and they are collected in removable containers fitted in the bottom. The operating cost is negligible — 25 paise electricity cost daily and some Rs 50 every two years for replacement of small parts,” Noronha, a commerce graduate, explained.
“It even sucks invisible and minute dust particles”, he said.
Noronha said the National Institute of Malaria Research has certified the product and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research initiatlly gave him Rs 75,000 as micro finance assistance.
Now DSIR has given him Rs 45 lakh to commercialise the product, he said.
In the meanwhile, he is raising Rs 3.5 crore to Rs four crore by offering 20 per cent equity in his company to Indian Angel Network to fuel his distribution, marketing and sales plans.
The product idea came to him after Noronha saw a “mosquito magnet” some years ago carrying a huge price tag of Rs 1.1 lakh, which even needed to be fitted with three LPG cylinders.
PTI
