Pioxaniliprole Approved as India’s First Home-Discovered Insecticide

PI Industries, the Gurugram-based agrochemical company, said on Thursday, 29 October, in New Delhi that the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) has registered Pioxaniliprole, the first insecticide active ingredient discovered in India. The committee, which functions under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, formally recognised the molecule as such, according to the company’s release. The company says it took more than a decade of in-house research.

Four Crops, Six Pests on the Label

The Tribune reported that the registration covers rice (yellow stem borer, leaf folder, fall armyworm), chilli (fruit borer, tobacco caterpillar), tomato (fruit borer) and Bengal gram (pod borer). The product will be sold as Pioxazon and the company plans to launch it this Rabi season, the report said. Price has not been announced. RuralVoice reported that fall armyworm, a major pest of maize, is the main target.

The company’s release does not give the mode of action or any safety data, and neither do the reports. Farmers will need the label and the state agriculture department’s advisory before using it.

Also read Farmer ID Reaches 11 Crore, Five Months Before March 2027 Target

A Decade of Field Trials

PI Industries said the molecule went through multi-location field trials, scientific assessments and regulatory studies under Indian conditions, with State Agricultural Universities taking part. Most insecticide ingredients sold in India were discovered abroad and are made or formulated here.

Mayank Singhal, vice chairperson and managing director, said: “It is a proud moment for PI and for Indian agricultural innovation.” The company reports more than 700 scientists, over 200 PhDs and more than 260 patents. It describes Pioxaniliprole as the first result of a wider research pipeline covering chemistry, biology and biochemical solutions.

Rabi Launch Is the Next Test

The sale date, price per pack and state-wise availability are yet to be announced. For related coverage of farm policy, see Daily Updates and our report on the 24th PM-Kisan instalment.

Source: PI Industries release. Also based on reporting by The Tribune and RuralVoice.

Image: PI Industries.