Godrej Agrovet Limited (Godrej Agrovet), one of India’s leading diversified agri-businesses, announced the launch ofa new herbicide specifically for Maize crop.‘Ashitaka’, developed in collaboration with ISK Japan, is an innovative solution that provides effective control over grasses and broad-leaved weeds which isa major challenge faced by maize farmers in India. With weed infestation being a major issue for maize crop, primarily at the initial growth stages, Ashitaka, if applied at 2 to 4 leaf stage, can provide good weed control.
As demand for maize continues to grow for livestock feed, industrial and biofuel use,with Ashitaka, Godrej Agrovet aims to provide maize farmers with a solution and confidence to tackle varied agro-climatic conditions thereby helping nation address raw material gaps during lean months by supporting round-the-year supply.
Speaking on the launch, Rajavelu NK, CEO, Crop Protection Business, Godrej Agrovet said, “At Godrej Agrovet, our mission is to deliver innovative, research-driven solutions that empower Indian farmers and uplift farming families by future-proofing agriculture against environmental and market challenges. Effective weed management during the early stages of crop growth is crucial for maize farmers to achieve better productivity. The launch of Ashitaka today, a first-of-its-kind in India, here in Tirunelveli, is a step towards providing farmers in the region a powerful solution to improve yields and enhance profitability.
Ashitaka’ s effective weed control in maize reduces crop-weed competition, enabling better use of limited soil moisture and nutrients, and supporting plant health during critical stages like flowering and grain filling. The right dosage of 50 ml/acre with 400 ml/acre solventat the 2 to 4 leaf stage, helps in controlling the weeds early and also aidsinreduction ofweed-related yield losses, which are known to worsen under weather stress. This results in more consistent output, better grain quality, and a strong hedge against income volatility particularly in rain-fed areas.
Commenting on his experience following the pre-launch trial of Ashitaka on his field, Selvaraj.N, a farmer from Kovilpatti said, “ During the trials, I have seen that the efficacy of Ashitaka,on tough-to-control grasses and broad-leaved weeds, has been amazing compared to other products available in the market. Based on the GodrejAgrovet team’s recommendation on dosage and type of nozzle, I applied Ashitaka at the 2-4 leaf stage when moisture levels was adequate. This not only helped me in optimizing labor costs but also improved crop health significantly.”
Mr. M. Rajkumar, a distributor from Karrivalantha Nallur showcased his excitement and said, “It is encouraging to see that how a trusted company like Godrej Agrovet has always been at the forefront of addressing farmer challenges with quality solutions. I am confident that Ashitaka will definitely help maize farmers protect their crop from weed, a major issue in the region.”
As per recently released FICCI-Yes Bank report titled The INDIANMAIZE SECTOR Trends, Challenges & Imperatives for Sustainable Growth, Tamil Nadu is the fifth largest maize producing state in the country. Through the launch of Ashitaka, Godrej Agrovet aims to contribute to state’s journey in enhancing the production of maize.
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