Crop Protection

FMC launches new soybean herbicide for Madhya Pradesh farmers

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26 May 2023, Madhya Pradesh: FMC today announced the launch of drone spray services in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The company also launched Galaxy® NXT, a herbicide for soybean crops that occupy high acreages in the state. New Galaxy® NXT herbicide features a dual mode of action technology to control grasses and broadleaf weeds in soybean crops

The new herbicide and drone spray service was launched in Bhopal in the presence of Mr. Mark Douglas, President and Chief Executive Officer of FMC Corporation, and Mr. Pramod Thota, President of the FMC Asia Pacific region. A live demonstration of self-propelled boom spray services which is expected to be introduced throughout the country in the next three months was also conducted successfully in farmers’ fields.

Approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the drone service is expected to improve farm productivity while reducing the need for manual labor. Agricultural unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) also called drones allows more control over spray uniformity and coverage as well as improve the precision of FMC’s premium and farmer-trusted brands Coragen® and Benevia®. Each spray drone can treat three to four acres in about 15 minutes, making the spraying job easier and more efficient. Using drones will also protect farmers from climatic risks like dehydration and heat stroke. FMC India has also been running customized training programs for farmers, advocating optimal use of input resources across crops grown in India. The spray services are available via the FMC India Farmer App in regional languages for ease of accessibility.

“FMC’s move is in line with the Indian government’s inclusive reforms to onboard drones and other spray services to modernize agriculture in the country,” said Mr. Ravi Annavarapu, President of FMC India. “Adoption of technology is critical to ensure crop protection and food security. India is at the forefront of innovating food systems, and this progress is best displayed in the state of Madhya Pradesh, which is market-driven, tech-positive, and farmer-centric. Madhya Pradesh, one of the first states where FMC has introduced spray services, demonstrates our commitment to providing access and training to promote rural entrepreneurship. At the same time, we are pleased to offer innovative solutions for the production of soybean ahead of the kharif season and will continue to contribute to the growth of the agriculture sector in Madhya Pradesh.”

Soybean, a high-value oilseed crop, is predominantly grown in the rainfed agro-ecosystem of central and peninsular India, Madhya Pradesh being the biggest grower state. Galaxy® NXT herbicide is a unique proprietary innovation product that contains dual modes of action which offer effective post-emergent control of grasses and broadleaf weeds and also tough-to-kill weeds including Commelina benghalensis, Commelina communis, and Acalypha indica in soybeans. The product will be made available by FMC in Madhya Pradesh across districts like Sehore, Ujjain, Indore, Dhar, Ratlam, Sagar, Chhindwara, Guna, and Ashok Nagar.

“The Indian national vision for self-sufficiency or Atmanirbhar Bharat, holds food sovereignty at its heart,” Mr. Annavarapu continued. “At FMC, it gives us great pleasure to have the same growth-oriented mindset and commitment to sustainability and innovation in agriculture. Through the launch of spray services to enable farmers in Madhya Pradesh to use our range of insecticides on various crops and the launch of a new product Galaxy® NXT herbicide for soybean growers, we are well equipped to meet the requirements of our partners and we will continue to localize and customize our services across the spectrum.”

In addition to the new product launch and field demonstration, a ceremony was also organized in Bhopal where FMC’s top 25 partners in India were felicitated by the company’s senior leaders for their resolute commitment to working together for the introduction of innovative products and new services to Indian farmers.

Also Read: Tractor industry in India expected to grow by 3-4% in 2023-24: Narinder Mittal, Managing Director of CNH Industrial India

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