Studies have shown that without crop protection, half the world's food crops would be lost, said Country Head of Bayer CropScience - Thailand Dr Harald Printz . He was Present at the launch in Colombo of the two herbicides,to improve the fields of rice.

Hayleys Agro Products Limited (HAPL) a provider of inputs for agriculture in Sri Lanka, has launched two powerful new rice herbicides that could significantly improve yields of the staple food produce of the country by effectively controlling weeds at a time when worldwide attention is focused on the emerging food crisis.

The new herbicide developed by Bayer CropScience Germany contains the breakthrough active ingredient to provide maximum protection against specific types of weeds, with minimal impact on the environment.

Together, the two herbicides provide maximum efficacy to efforts to combat weeds that choke paddy and help improve yields.

"As a result of population growth and the decline of arable lands, rice stocks are at a historical low at present. Therefore demand is high for crop protection products," Dr. Printz said.

Chief Executive Officer of Hayleys Agro products Limited Upali Gangoda said research by Bayer had helped improve the efficacy of crop protection chemicals resulting in a reduction of the quantities that are being used, making them environmental friendly.

He pointed out that in 1998 when the world population was 5.1 billion the amount of land to be cultivated to provide food for one person was 2,700 square meters. "In 2020, it is estimated that the world population will increase to 8.5 billion and that the amount of land to be cultivated to feed one person would be 1,600 square meters. This clearly shows the importance of crop protection towards increasing productivity in the agriculture sector," Gangoda added.