Syngenta AG proposes to take its made-for-India rice seedling solution — Tegra — global. The company is targeting rice-growing countries such as Bangladesh, China, Indonesia and Guatemala, said Mr Andrew McConville, Head — Corporate Affairs, Asia Pacific.

Tegra was developed by Syngenta for the Indian market and was introduced in States such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in 2011. Offered as a service to the farmers, the solution has been deployed in about 5,500 acres so far. In the current year, the company is targeting a five-fold increase in area at 25,000 acres under Tegra, Mr McConville said.

The Tegra package comprises seed, raised seedlings, transplanting, labour for logistics while transplanting, and application of herbicides at the time of transplanting, besides advisory on agronomic practices. Besides enhancing the yields by an average of up to 30 per cent, Tegra also helps farmers overcome labour shortage and rising labour costs.

The paddy seedlings are grown by the company in a special media comprising straw, soil, nutrients and chemicals and are replanted after 15 days with special transplant machinery in the farmers' fields. The media is a Syngenta finding and the company enjoys a patent for it.

“We charge Rs 5,250 a acre for the entire package and this is almost the same as manual transplanting cost incurred by farmers,” said Dr K.C. Ravi, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, South Asia.

“The adoption rate is increasing in the districts of Nagappatinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Thiruvannamalai, Vellore, Thiruvallur, Villupuram in Tamil Nadu and in Nalgonda in Andhra Pradesh, where it has been introduced,” Dr Ravi said.

The company plans to undertake a pilot in Karnataka this year and introduce the seedling technology in Punjab and Haryana next year. “We are also looking to expand the offering to Bangladesh sometime during the year covering a small area of 500 acres to begin with,” Mr McConville said.

vishwa@thehindu.co.in

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