Nichem Solutions launched in India a repellent to tackle pink bollworm in cotton

Thane-based specialty chemicals firm Nichem Solutions has launched a repellent to tackle pink bollworm in cotton, a menace that is proving to be a major headache for growers, its managing director Rajan Raje has said.

″The repellent is bitter tasting, which results in the bollworm leaving the plant. As the leaves become bitter due to spraying the repellent, the bollworms cannot survive on them. This helps the plant to grow better,″ he said.

Lack of infrastructure

The company has sold 100 kiloliters of the repellent this year and the results have been good. ″We expect a huge improvement next year. The repellent was primarily sold in Maharashtra’s Vidharba region,″ said Nichem Solutions CEO.

The repellent is sold through its distributor which has its network in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. ″We have no infrastructure to market the repellent in Haryana and Punjab,″ he said on whether the product was tried in the northern states where pink bollworm was reported this year.

Reduction of pesticide

The repellent to tackle pink bollworm in cotton is part of Nichem Solutions’ offering that is perfume and flavor based to keep harmful insects and pests away from plants, mainly horticultural crops, Raje said.

″Once these products are sprayed on plants, they stay there and drive the pests away and inspect. This drastically reduces the need for insecticides or pesticides on plants,″ said Nichem (derived from niche chemicals) Solutions CEO.

Nichem, which has six verticals starting from water treatment to polymer additives to consumer products, focuses on Cropsil, repellents and Plantsil products. The firm offers pre-harvest biocides and fungicides, which are non-toxic and non-conventional, and post-harvest preservation, the company’s CEO said.

Stress busters

″Our fungicides are based on hydrogen peroxide and silver. They are very strong oxidizing agents that dissolve in water and oxygen. The low concentration of silver left behind acts as a protective agent for the plant. Our products leave no harmful residue on plants,″ said Raje.

The company also offers insecticides and pesticides that are non-toxic under the Gomite brand. ″Then we have nutritional products, which in themselves help plants to overcome water and heat stress. They also improve the plant’s immunity. The product is based on ortho-silicic acid (OSA),″ he said.

Improving productivity

Many of the company’s products are based on natural ingredients. ″Many are eco-certified or certified for organic farming. With that in mind, we ensure that there is no toxicity at all, be it on land or water,″ he said.

Nichem offers Plantsil, a mixture of OSA with seaweed, and Cropsil, which helps the plant’s immunity and improves its yield. ″Once the plant’s immunity improves, it automatically produces a better yield. We have seen productivity improve by 10% to 100%,″ said Nichem Solutions CEO.

Cropsil is a generic product used in horticulture or floriculture or common plants. ″The use of OSA optimizes the absorption of nutrients and fertilizers, making them resistant to stress. This also lowers the use of pesticides and insecticides,″ said Raje.

Control of ethylene

In post-harvest preservation, Nichem helps to control the release of ethylene in fruits, vegetables and flowers. ″The preservation will make the release of ethylene gradual and thus increase the durability or shelf life of an agricultural product. Our products have shown a two-fold increase in the shelf life or transit time of fruits even at room temperature,″ he said.

The solution to improve durability and transport time is through packaging material, including plastic bags and coatings. ″We have also developed coatings for corrugated boxes and have 3-4 different technologies to control the release of ethylene from plants,″ said Raje.

On the pricing, Nichem Solutions CEO said, ″Our products and technologies are priced based on what the user can afford. The end user here will either be a farmer or a trader or an exporter. We are well aware that any pricing of 5-10 % more is not sustainable. All our technologies typically ensure that the prices are within the reach of the common man,″ he said.

International patents

Incorporated in 2014, Nichem Solutions is growing at 30 percent annually and all its products are developed in-house under the guidance of Prof VC Malshe, Chief Technology Officer, who is a polymer scientist and paint technologist.

The company holds 3-4 international patents, especially for its OSA technology in Cropsil, in addition to Plantsil and other variant products. Nichem has obtained patents for these in Canada, USA and Netherlands apart from India. ″It is registered in almost 30 of the US states and is being registered in South Africa. These technologies have been accepted and approved,″ Raje said.

Nichem Solutions exports Cropsil to Canada, USA, Kenya, Holland and South Africa. ″We are doing extremely well in Canada and the United States,″ he said. Going forward, Raje said Nichem sees a positive development in the new generation entering agriculture.