Trials conducted by the company indicate the SAT route requires only one-fiftieth of spraying and one-tenth of granules (active ingredients of the pesticide) as compared to conventional pesticide application on crops. Further, it provides protection against two major pest attacks – the leaf folder and the stem borer menace.An innovative product weed control in paddy and another for the protection of fruits and vegetables from harmful microscopic roundworms called nematodes are the next in a line awaiting regulatory clearance in India.

“We have a product called Rinskor, a weed control product, which we are planning to introduce soon. Today in many of the places weeds are controlled by flooding the fields. Rinskor products fit into the DSR (direct seeding of rice, another innovative technique offered by the company to the farmers) space. It provides control to some of the hardest and most difficult weeds to control. It does it with the smallest dose possible. Maybe a tablespoon of active ingredient instead of a bottle. It is a unique mode of action plus it provides the best environment profile. The spectrum of control it gives on weeds is tremendous. What is critical for the farmer is how quickly you long lasting the control is and how quickly you get the control. Globally we have it in multiple markets,” Sawani explains.

The other major product awaiting regulatory approval in India is Reklemel, primarily targeting the fruit and vegetable segments, especially high-value fruit and vegetable segments like capsicum. “Reklemel provides the most sophisticated nematode control and it has absolutely no impact on the health of your soil. All the nutrients are retained, it doesn’t impact any of those, but gives great control on nematodes. The yield impact can be big. Australia is one of our key markets where the product is already available,” Sawani says. According to him, India is a key market for Corteva for three major reasons.

“Growing population, a growing middle class, which is going to demand higher quality means farmers should be able to produce higher quality products, using lesser resources, in the same land and yet be able to increase their incomes. When we talk about our company as a solution provider to the farm enterprise, it covers all. It goes across crop protection, seed solutions that we bring, digital interventions and technologies that deliver this outcome. We have the best in class pipeline for the innovations that is needed.”

The second is India’s educated highly skilled workforce across multiple fields. “We have growing investments in multiple areas which provide high-quality employment for that skill set. The seed technology lab that we have expanded in Telangana is one such example. We have a centre in Hyderabad which supports many of our key competencies areas globally. Whether those competency areas are in finance, human resources or IT, it is providing global support for the company. We have also made investments in the last two years to ramp up data sciences capabilities in India,” he said.

The company also has two of its five strategic contract manufacturing partners in India. “It is important for us to have a resilient supply chain that provides adaptability and flexibility. It should also have the ability to scale up newer products that are discovered as we start launching them, and should have a workforce that is available to produce consistent quality. Cost factor is also important. India plays that balance. That’s why India is one of the highest bets for Corteva,” Sawani added.

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