BASF launches insecticide Efficon – The Hindu BusinessLine

Chemical solutions company BASF has launched Efficon, a new insecticide, in India to help farmers control sucking pests. The product is classified under the new IRAC Group 36 and represents a new class of insecticides (Group 36 – pyridazine) with no known cross-resistance with existing products, making it a superior tool for insecticide resistance management.

“Weeping and sucking pests pose a significant threat to crops in India, causing extensive damage that can amount to 35 to 40 percent loss in productivity and yield. Farmers in the country can now meet this challenge with Efficon,” said Giridhar Ranuva, Business Director of Agricultural Solutions, BASF India.

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He along with some Indian and global leaders from BASF launched the product here on Monday.

He said the company recommends two applications and said the product started working on its target within just two hours of application.

After Australia, where the product was launched in 2023, India is among the first countries to receive the product.

“It is effective in multiple life stages of target pests such as aphids, jassids and whiteflies. Once applied, Efficon quickly prevents insects from feeding and damaging plants,” said Simone Barg, Senior Vice President of BASF Agricultural Solutions, Asia Pacific.

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BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division, which generated a turnover of 10.1 billion euros, invested 900 million in R&D in 2023.

BASF had 2,335 employees in India with eight production locations and 42 offices. In 2023, BASF achieved sales of approximately €2.4 billion in India.