#GodrejAgrovet #Ashitaka #MaizeFarming #CropProtection #WeedManagement #AgricultureInnovation #FarmingSolutions #AtmanirbharKrishi #FoodSecurity #SustainableFarming
Chandigarh: In a significant development for India’s maize farming community, Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL), one of the country’s leading diversified agri-businesses, has announced the launch of ‘Ashitaka’, a new-generation herbicide tailored for maize crops. Developed in collaboration with ISK Japan, Ashitaka promises to offer farmers a scientifically proven solution for controlling both grasses and broad-leaved weeds, a persistent challenge affecting maize yields across the country.
Addressing a Major Challenge in Maize Cultivation
Weed infestation, particularly during the initial growth phases of maize, is one of the most serious threats to productivity. Uncontrolled weed growth competes with crops for nutrients, water, and sunlight, resulting in significant yield losses.
Ashitaka has been specially formulated to tackle this problem. When applied at the 2–4 weed leaf stage, it provides effective control, ensuring that maize plants get a healthy start without the stress of crop-weed competition.
India’s Growing Maize Sector
Globally, India ranks 4th in terms of acreage and 5th in annual maize production. Maize has emerged as one of the most versatile crops, supporting a wide range of industries—livestock feed, starch production, processed food, and increasingly, biofuels.
With India’s expanding middle class driving higher consumption of animal protein, along with demand from food processing and industrial users, the maize sector is witnessing rapid growth. However, challenges persist:
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Limited access to high-quality seeds and inputs
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Climate change-related disruptions (unpredictable rains, extreme weather, pest attacks)
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Income volatility due to inconsistent yields
In this context, research-driven solutions like Ashitaka become crucial to safeguard productivity and help maize maintain its central role in India’s food and industrial economy.
Leadership Perspectives
Commenting on the launch, Rajavelu NK, CEO, Crop Protection Business, Godrej Agrovet, said:
“At Godrej Agrovet, our mission is to deliver innovative, research-driven solutions that empower Indian farmers and uplift farming families by future-proofing agriculture against environmental and market challenges. Effective weed management during the early stages of crop growth is crucial for maize farmers to achieve better productivity. The launch of Ashitaka, a first-of-its-kind in India, is a step toward providing farmers with a powerful solution to improve yields and enhance profitability.”
Anil Choubey, GM – Marketing, Crop Protection Business, GAVL, added:
“Ashitaka’s effective weed control in maize reduces crop-weed competition, enabling better use of limited soil moisture and nutrients, and supporting plant health during critical stages like flowering and grain filling. The recommended dosage – 50 ml/acre with 400 ml/acre of surfactant at the 2–4 weed leaf stage, helps in controlling the weeds early and also aids in the reduction of weed-related yield losses, which are known to worsen under weather stress. This results in more consistent output, better grain quality, and a strong hedge against income volatility, particularly in rain-fed areas.”
Science-Driven Weed Control
Ashitaka combines Japanese expertise with Godrej Agrovet’s deep understanding of Indian agriculture. By targeting weeds early, it allows farmers to make better use of scarce resources like soil moisture and nutrients. This is particularly critical in rain-fed regions where farmers depend on unpredictable rainfall and face higher risks of crop losses.
The herbicide not only improves grain yield but also contributes to better grain quality, thereby increasing farmer incomes and reducing market risks.
Rollout and Future Expansion
The product has been launched in key maize-growing regions of Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Godrej Agrovet has confirmed that it plans to expand the availability of Ashitaka to all maize-producing states in the coming months, ensuring that a wider farming community can benefit from this innovation.
With maize acreage growing steadily and India’s agriculture sector becoming increasingly technology-oriented, the company expects strong adoption of Ashitaka across diverse geographies.
Significance for Indian Agriculture
The introduction of Ashitaka marks another milestone in Godrej Agrovet’s journey to strengthen India’s farm productivity and resilience. By delivering high-quality, science-backed crop protection solutions, the company continues to empower farmers against the twin challenges of climate variability and resource constraints.
The innovation also aligns with the government’s larger goals of:
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Boosting farm productivity
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Reducing post-harvest losses
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Enhancing food security
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Supporting the vision of “Atmanirbhar Krishi” (self-reliant agriculture)
Conclusion
With the launch of Ashitaka, Godrej Agrovet has once again demonstrated its leadership in innovative agri-solutions. By combining global R&D expertise with local market knowledge, the company is offering maize farmers a much-needed tool to improve yields, protect incomes, and withstand the growing challenges of climate change. As Ashitaka rolls out across India’s maize belts, it is set to become an important enabler of sustainable and profitable maize farming.
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#GodrejAgrovet #Ashitaka #MaizeFarming #CropProtection #WeedManagement #AgricultureInnovation #FarmingSolutions #AtmanirbharKrishi #FoodSecurity #SustainableFarming
