Insecticides (India) Limited (IIL), a publicly listed company on both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), has announced the launch of Altair, a patented pre-emergent herbicide developed by Nissan Chemical Corporation, Japan. IIL will exclusively market the product in India as part of its ongoing partnership with Nissan Chemical, which began in 2013.
Altair is designed for use in paddy (rice) cultivation and aims to address the persistent issue of weed management in Indian rice fields. Developed over eight years of research by Nissan Chemical Corporation, Altair introduces a new mode of action in the pre-emergent herbicide category.
The herbicide forms a protective barrier in the soil when applied within 0 to 3 days after transplanting paddy. This barrier prevents weed emergence for 40 to 50 days, covering the crop’s early growth period. Altair targets a broad spectrum of weeds, including Echinochloa crus-galli, Ammania, and various Cyperus species, which are commonly found in Indian paddy fields.
The formulation of Altair has been tailored to suit Indian agronomic conditions. According to Insecticides (India) Ltd., it offers a simplified application process and consistent performance. The product will be made available through IIL’s distribution network across all major paddy-growing regions in India.
Mr. Manoj Singh Bhandari, Crop Manager – Rice at Insecticides (India) Limited, noted that Altair will be integrated into the company’s existing product line for rice cultivation.
