Hayleys Agro helps boost paddy yields

Hayleys Agro Products Limited (HAPL) has launched two new rice herbicides that could significantly improve yields of the staple food produce of the country by effectively controlling weeds at a time when worldwide attention is focused on the emerging food crisis.

Ricestar, a new herbicide developed by Bayer CropScience Germany contains the breakthrough active ingredient fenoxaprop-p-ethyl to provide maximum protection against specific types of weeds, with minimal impact on the environment.

Ricestar is designed to work alongside Sunrice, another powerful weed-specific herbicide from Bayer. Together, the two herbicides provide maximum efficacy to efforts to combat weeds that choke paddy and help improve yields.

The Guest of Honour at the launch in Colombo of the two herbicides, Country Head of Bayer Crop Science Thailand, Dr. Harald Printz said that studies have shown that without crop protection, half the world's food crops would be lost.

"As a result of population growth and the decline of arable lands, rice stocks are at a historical low at present. Therefore, demand is high for crop protection products," Dr. Printz said.

He said Bayer spends 500 million Euros on Research and Development annually and the amount will increase to 750 million Euros by 2015. During 2000-2006 Bayer CropScience developed 17 new active ingredients that are used in crop protection, he said.