By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : May 26, 2025 6:10 pm
Altair represents a major advancement in rice herbicide technology
Insecticides (India) Ltd. (IIL), a leading player in India’s crop protection and nutrition industry, announces the launch of Altair, a patented pre-emergent herbicide for paddy.
Altair has been developed by Nissan Chemical Corporation, Japan and will be exclusively marketed by IIL in India. Altair marks a significant milestone in IIL’s commitment to bringing world-class solutions to Indian farmers. This strategic partnership between Insecticides (India) Limited and Nissan Chemical Corporation, Japan, a global leader in agricultural innovation brings cutting-edge Japanese technology to Indian fields since 2013.
Commenting on the launch, Rajesh Kumar Aggarwal, Managing Director, IIL, said: “We are delighted to introduce Altair, another product from our partners Nissan in India. A breakthrough pre-emergent herbicide for paddy which checks the germination of majority of weeds in paddy. This launch is a testament to IIL’s commitment to delivering innovative and effective solutions that address the real challenges faced by Indian farmers. We are confident that Altair will become an indispensable tool for paddy growers across the country. With this launch, IIL aims to further strengthen its position as a leader in the crop protection segment and contribute to the prosperity of India’s farming community.”
Dushyant Sood, Chief Marketing Officer, IIL mentioned “Indian paddy farmers have been facing the challenges of manual Weeding, yield compromise, late intervention and multiple application of herbicides. The need for innovative, efficient, and safe weed management solutions has never been greater. We are happy that now they have a solution to their problems as Altair. We would also like to share that this has been demonstrated to more than 10,000 farmers across geographies in more than 500 large plot demonstration during last one year. Farmers have found this more effective than their current herbicide.”
Altair represents a major advancement in rice herbicide technology, developed after eight years of dedicated research. Specifically designed to tackle persistent weed challenges in Indian rice cultivation systems, Altair sets a new standard in pre-emergent herbicide solutions.
Unlike conventional herbicides, Altair forms a protective barrier in the soil from day one of application. It should be applied within 0–3 days after transplanting. This early intervention prevents the emergence of weeds for an extended period—up to 40–50 days—offering lasting protection during critical early growth stages.
Altair provides broad-spectrum control against a wide range of weeds, including the most prominent and difficult ones such as Echinochloa crus-galli,Ammania, Cyperus species & many other tough to control weeds.