BASF and MARDI Announce Launch of the Clearfield Production System for Rice

Mardi and BASF collaborate in introducing an effective solution to Malaysia’s rice industry through effective control of weedy rice and other noxious paddy weeds.

9 Jul 2010 --- BASF and The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), announced the commercial launch of the Clearfield Production System for rice in Malaysia. The Clearfield Production System combines high-yielding seeds with broad-spectrum herbicides tailored to regional conditions, delivering efficient, season-long weed control, crop quality and global market acceptance.

Established in 1969, MARDI focuses on the adaptation of agricultural technologies to local needs and collaborated with BASF to use its Clearfield Production System to provide an effective solution for the control of weedy rice in a direct-seeding culture. The Clearfield Production System consists of herbicide tolerant rice variety OnDuty Herbicide and Clearfield Stewardship guide.

The use of the Clearfield production system will mainly benefit the rice industry in Malaysia by providing effective control of weedy rice and other noxious paddy weeds. It will also help to substantially reduce the cost of weed management in rice cultivation. This innovative and effective agronomic solution delivers significant value and benefits to the rice farmers through effective weed control, reduced cost of production, increased yield potential and improved crop quality.

“We have analyzed rice cultivation and production, both with and without the Clearfield Production System, and the most important result achieved is significantly higher yields with the Clearfield Production System for rice. In addition, the system also reduces costs, energy use and resources. Rice farmers in Malaysia can now cultivate rice more effectively with improved profit potential with the Clearfield Production System,” said Lin Heng, Senior Vice President, Crop Protection division, BASF Asia Pacific.

BASF is proud to be a partner in this collaborative project with MARDI for the development of local varieties of Clearfield rice and which will bring benefit to rice growers in the country.