Corteva’s Granular Insecticide Boosts Rice Yields in Nellore

On a bright September morning in Nellore, a modest crowd of rice growers, agronomists, scientists and a few local officials gathered around a field that looked a little different from the usual sight.

Corteva Agriscience – the U.S.‑based pure‑play agri‑company – had set up a live demonstration of its latest granular insecticide, Mavilon. The aim was simple: let the crops do the talking and see whether a single dose could keep the notorious Brown Planthopper (BPH) at bay.

What the farmers saw was, frankly, encouraging. The rice stands were noticeably stronger, the tillers greener, and the grain‑filling stage progressed with fewer gaps. In the words of one veteran farmer, “The plants looked robust, like they hadn’t even felt the stress of pests.”

Mavilon is marketed as a one‑time application, timed 30‑35 days after transplanting. By delivering a protective shield before the pests really get a foothold, it lets growers stay ahead rather than scrambling after the fact. This is especially handy now that BPH outbreaks are becoming more aggressive and labour shortages make quick, repeated spraying a real headache.

The demonstration also highlighted a practical upside: fewer spray runs mean less fuel, lower labour costs and a smaller environmental footprint. For many of the attendees, that translated into a tangible sense of relief – a chance to protect their fields without adding another layer of complexity to an already demanding season.

While the field trial was limited in scope, Corteva’s message was clear. The company sees India not just as a market, but as a global hub for seed and crop‑protection innovation. “We want to give Indian farmers tools that are both effective and easy to use,” a company spokesperson said, adding that Mavilon is part of a broader push to bring more science‑driven solutions to the country.

As the day wound down, the crowd dispersed, many of them chatting about how they might incorporate the product into their own planting schedules. Whether Mavilon becomes a staple in Nellore’s rice paddies remains to be seen, but the demo certainly sowed the seeds of interest.