Crystal Crop Protection launches Sikosa to protect paddy crops from weeds

Crystal Crop Protection Ltd launched a next-generation herbicide Sikosa to protect paddy crops from weeds and help farmers to enhance farm profitability in paddy.

Sikosa is powered by Banyan technology, which was jointly developed in collaboration with Battelle, UK Limited (“Battelle UK”) and Mitsui AgriScience International SA/NV (“MASI”). The highly innovative technology for the first time, enables the formulation of liquid, chemically stable, and highly efficacious sulfonylurea herbicides. It will be an exclusive offering by Crystal Crop Protection and will help farmers grow more profitable crops by attaining their maximum genetic potential.

Ankur Aggarwal, Managing Director of Crystal Crop Protection Limited said, “In this era of collaboration, Sikosa will be a great example of global collaboration in R&D-based product introduction for Indian farmers. I am confident that this next-generation herbicide will play a critical role in enhancing productivity in paddy crops. With this introduction, Crystal now has the widest range of products for the complete crop cycle of Paddy”.

Sikosa was tested in various State Agri Universities with more than 1,000 demonstrations in the last 5 years with paddy farmers. The product has been found effective in the control of narrow-leaf weeds, broad-leaf weeds, and sedges.

Commenting on the launch, Battelle UK’s Darren Grafham, said “We are excited to see the deployment of the Banyan technology co-developed with MASI and taken to market through our partner Crystal Crop Protection in India. This first product is expected to enhance the yields of paddy crops in India for the benefit of farmers across the continent. We look forward to furthering our partnership with Crystal to bring innovations to India.

Crystal Crop Protection plans to introduce Sikosa for paddy growers in Punjab, Haryana, UP, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh in the coming season, which will further strengthen its Crystal’s presence in Paddy markets across India. The product will further strengthen the company’s paddy portfolio, which already has the industry’s leading brands like Bavistin, Tilt, Blue Copper, Azotrix, and the recently launched Mentor.

Mr. Hidetoshi Nakamura of MASI further added, “We are proud to have discovered and developed with Battelle a breakthrough formulation technology. Our best-in-class formulation technology combined with Crystal’s expertise and extensive presence across India will allow Sikosa to become rapidly a leading paddy herbicide. “

Crystal Crop Protection hopes to attain a market share of 2-3 percent in the first year of launch, which can grow up to 7-8 percent in the next couple of years. Sikosa is expected to increase Crystal Crop Protection’s topline by 3-5 percent in years to come.

Read more