Corteva Agriscience launches Novixid™ herbicide in India to manage weeds in rice fields

Corteva Agriscience launched a new product Novixid™ herbicide at an event in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The day-long event in Hyderabad highlighted the importance of weed management to increase productivity and farmer profitability. Novixid™ was showcased as the technology of the future.

Rice growers face many challenges during the cropping season and weeds are one of the big threats as they compete for the same nutrition and resources that young rice plants need. The Novixid™ herbicide is a unique combination of Rinskor^® active and has proven very beneficial in weed management.

The product effectively controls weeds that are tolerant to ALS (Acetolactate synthase), ACCase (Acetyl- coenzyme A carboxylase), and HPPD (Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase) HPPD inhibitor herbicides as well. It also has a favorable toxicology and ecotoxicology profile which benefits soil health and the environment. This makes Novixid™ a distinctive product that performs across variable conditions and water management environments effectively.

Commenting on the results of using Novixid™, Mr. Manam Srinivas a farmer from Nalgonda, Telanganasaid, ″Weeds are an extremely big problem in my rice fields. There are at least five to six varieties that are hampering the productivity of my crops. With Novixid™, I have seen a drastic reduction in weeds. This has also helped increase my yield and my earnings. With Novixid™, I have confidence that I’ll earn more and be able to achieve my goals including buying a car for my family.″

Commenting on the company’s commitment to bringing sustainable and innovative agricultural products to India, Mr. Ravinder Balain, President – South Asia, Corteva Agriscience^® said, ″Farmers are looking for modern solutions to address their challenges and improve productivity. Corteva^® strives to bring the most innovative and sustainable product solutions to the market. With the introduction of Novixid™, farmers will be able to effectively overcome the weeds that impede crop productivity. The product’s positive toxicology profile also makes it ideal to retain soil health and enable healthier crop cycles.

Speaking about the challenges in weed management, Dr. V K Choudhary, a renowned scientist in the field of weed science said, ″herbicide resistance is one of the biggest issues faced by Indian farmers who grow rice. Herbicides with a single mode of action contribute to resistance development, giving rise to the increase in weeds on the crops. However, the use of herbicides with alternate modes of action can manage the resistance issue faced by many. Rinskor^® active is one the molecules that may deter resistance development and help with weed management in the current scenario.″