FILE - The Bayer AG corporate logo is displayed on a building of the German drug and chemicals company in Berlin, May 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
| Photo Credit:
Markus Schreiber
Bayer has launched ‘Xivana Smart’, its latest fungicide innovation designed to protect high-value horticultural crops from diseases such as downy mildew and late blight. Powered by the new active ingredient in FRAC group 49, Xivana Smart delivers superior disease control in grapes, cucurbits, potatoes and tomatoes, helping farmers safeguard crop quality, improve productivity and maximise returns.Downy mildew and late blight are among the most destructive diseases affecting horticultural crops, often accounting for nearly half of farmers’ crop protection expenditure. As disease pressure intensifies due to changing weather patterns and prolonged periods of humidity, growers require innovative solutions that provide reliable, long-lasting protection while supporting sustainable farming practices.A media statement said Xivana Smart addresses this challenge with a modern mode of action that delivers best-in-class performance against oomycete diseases. The solution offers outstanding efficacy with protection lasting an average of 7 to 14 days, even under rainy conditions. Its rain-fast properties and ability to protect both existing foliage and new plant growth enable farmers to better manage disease pressure throughout the crop cycle.Science-led innovationQuoting Mohan Babu, Chief Operating Officer – India, Crop Science Division, Bayer, the statement said: “Horticulture is central to India’s nutritional security and farmer prosperity. With Xivana Smart, Bayer is bringing science-led innovation that helps horticulture farmers manage complex disease pressures, protect crop quality and build more resilient, sustainable food systems.”Xivana Smart will be available across key horticulture-growing regions, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab, it said.Published on August 3, 2026
