Page 18 - Vol.39-No.5

FERTILIZERS

CRYSTAL CROP PROTECTION LTD LAUNCHES

SIKOSA TO PROTECT PADDY CROPS FROM WEEDS.

Leading agrochemical company Crystal strations in the last 5 years with paddy Chhattisgarh in coming season, which will
Crop Protection Ltd launched a next gen- farmers. Sikosa has been found effective further strengthen its Crystal’s presence
eration herbicide Sikosa to protect paddy in the control of narrow leaf weeds, broad in Paddy markets across India. The prod-
crop from weeds and help farmers to en- leaf weeds and sedges. uct will further strengthen the company’s
hance farm profitability in paddy. paddy portfolio, which already has the in-
Sikosa is powered by Banyan technology, dustry’s leading brands like, Bavistin, Tilt,
which was jointly developed in collaboration Blue Copper, Azotrix and recently launched
with Battelle, UK Limited (“Battelle UK”) Mentor.
and Mitsui AgriScience International SA/NV Mr. Hidetoshi Nakamura of MASI further
(“MASI”). The highly innovative technology added, “We are proud to have discovered
for the first time, enables the formulation and developed with Battelle a breakthrough
of liquid, chemically stable and highly ef- formulation technology. Our best-in-class
ficacious sulfonyl urea herbicides. It will formulation technology combined with
be an exclusive offering by Crystal Crop Crystal’s expertise and extensive presence
Protection and will help farmers grow more across India will allow Sikosa to become
profitable crops by attaining its maximum Commenting on the launch, Battelle UK’s rapidly a leading paddy herbicide. “
genetic potential. Darren Grafham, said “We are excited to Crystal Crop protection hopes to attain
"In this era of collaboration, Sikosa will see the deployment of the Banyan tech- a market share of 2-3 percent in the first
be a great example of global collabora- nology co-developed with MASI and tak- year of launch, which can grow up to 7-8
tion in R&D based product introduction en to market through our partner Crystal percent in the next couple of years. Sikosa
for Indian farmers. I am confident that this Crop Protection in India. This first product is expected to increase Crystal Crop Pro-
next generation herbicide will play a criti- is expected to enhance the yields of paddy tection's topline by 3-5 percent in years
cal role in enhancing productivity in paddy crops in India for the benefit of the farmers to come.
crops. With this introduction, Crystal now across the continent. We look forward to Driven by its in-house R&D, acquisition
has the widest range of products for the furthering our partnership with Crystal to and collaboration with international play-
complete crop cycle of Paddy, " said Ankur bring innovations to India. ers, company has launched 14 products in
Aggarwal, Managing Director, Crystal Crop Crystal Crop Protection plans to intro- last two years and its ready to launch six
Protection Limited. duce Sikosa for paddy growers in Punjab, to seven more products shortly depend-
Haryana, UP, Andhra Pradesh, Telanga-
Sikosa was tested in various State Agri ing upon the grant of registrations by the
Universities with more than 1,000 demon- na, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, regulatory authority.

Circle 19 on enquiry card
WORLD BEE DAY 2023: BEES AND POLLINATORS

NEED RESPONSIBLE AGRICULTURE THAT

SUPPORTS THEIR ROLE IN NATURE

The Food and Agriculture Organization clude crop rotation and diversity, reducing
of the United Nations (FAO) marked today the use of pesticides, and restoring and
World Bee Day 2023 with a global cer- protecting the habitat of pollinators,” Qu
emony in which participants emphasized added, noting that “even the adoption of
the importance of promoting sustainable precision agriculture tools and innovation
agricultural practices that respect the vital can protect bees. Using technology and
role pollinators play in nature. data to optimize fertilizer and irrigation
Pollination is essential for the mainte- practices can reduce excessive nutrients
nance of plant biodiversity, the survival of and chemicals in water, which harm polli-
our ecosystems. About 75 percent of the nators and their habitats.”
world's crops – which produce fruits and “Protecting bees and other pollinators “World Bee Day has contributed signifi-
other seeds for human consumption – de- is essential to guarantee agricultural pro- cantly to raising awareness of the impor-
pend, at least in part, on pollinators, includ- duction, food security, ecosystems res- tance of bees and other pollinators and
ing bees. Under the theme "Bee engaged in toration and at large plant health ,” FAO to promoting international cooperation
pollinator-friendly agricultural production”, Director-General QU Dongyu said in his to protect them,” said Nataša Pirc Musar,
World Bee Day 2023 draws attention to opening remarks at the event held on the President of the Republic of Slovenia, the
the threats endangering these insects and eve of the official day, which annually falls country to initiate the establishment of a
the need to address them. on 20 May as designated by the United World Bee Day in 2016 at the FAO Region-
Nations. Pollinator-friendly practices “in- al Conference for Europe. “Slovenia alone

16 Vol. 39 No. 5