IIL Banjo Super Insecticide - Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC for Cotton, Paddy & Vegetables

IIL Banjo Super is a powerful broad-spectrum insecticide from Insecticides India Limited (IIL), formulated with a dual-action combination of Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC. This ready-mix insecticide is designed to tackle both chewing and sucking pests in one go, making it a reliable choice for farmers dealing with mixed pest attacks. The Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) formulation ensures excellent coverage and sticking power on plant foliage.

Banjo Super works through both contact and stomach action. It provides rapid knockdown of active pests and delivers long-lasting residual protection. The product is suitable for a wide range of crops including cotton, paddy (rice), vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, chilli, wheat, sugarcane, and groundnut. It effectively controls major pests like bollworms, caterpillars, borers, aphids, jassids, whiteflies, thrips, and leaf-eating insects. With its unique 40:4 ratio of active ingredients, Banjo Super is especially useful when single-chemical sprays are no longer effective due to pest resistance.

This insecticide is ideal as a "rescue treatment" when pest pressure is high and immediate control is needed. It combines the instant shock effect of a pyrethroid with the deep-penetrating action of an organophosphate, ensuring that pests are stopped quickly and the crop stays protected for longer. Farmers can expect healthier plants, reduced pest damage, and better quality produce when using Banjo Super as part of their pest management program.

Key Benefits

• Dual-action control: Combines contact and stomach poison action to kill pests that touch the spray or eat treated leaves.
• Rapid knockdown: Pests stop feeding and fall off the plant immediately after contact due to the fast-acting Cypermethrin component.
• Broad-spectrum protection: Effectively controls both chewing pests (caterpillars, borers, leaf-eaters) and sucking pests (aphids, jassids, whiteflies, thrips) in a single spray.
• Resistance management: Two different modes of action (Group 1B + Group 3A) make it effective against pests that have developed resistance to single-molecule insecticides.
• Ovicidal action: Destroys pest eggs along with adults and larvae, preventing the next generation from hatching.
• Translaminar penetration: Penetrates leaf tissue to reach pests hiding on the underside of leaves where direct spray cannot reach.
• Good rainfastness: Becomes rainproof within 2 to 4 hours after application, reducing the need for re-spraying.
• Wide crop adaptability: Suitable for use on cotton, paddy, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, chilli, wheat, sugarcane, and groundnut.

How It Works

Banjo Super attacks the pest's nervous system from two different angles, making it highly effective even against resistant pests. The two active ingredients work together in a synergistic manner.

Cypermethrin (Group 3A - Pyrethroid): This component acts on contact. It keeps the sodium channels in the insect's nerve cells open, causing continuous nerve firing. This leads to rapid twitching, tremors, and immediate paralysis — known as the "knockdown" effect. The pest stops feeding and falls off the plant within minutes of contact.

Profenofos (Group 1B - Organophosphate): This component acts as both a contact and stomach poison. It inhibits the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, which is essential for resetting nerve signals after they fire. When this enzyme is blocked, the insect's nervous system cannot function properly, leading to paralysis and eventual death. Profenofos also provides ovicidal action, killing pest eggs before they can hatch.

Resistance-breaking action: Profenofos also blocks certain enzymes that pests use to break down and detoxify insecticides. This clears the path for Cypermethrin to work effectively even on "hard-to-kill" pest populations. The result is that the insect stops feeding immediately and dies shortly after due to complete nervous system failure.

The combination of contact action (kills on touch) and stomach action (kills when ingested) ensures that pests are controlled whether they are on the surface of the plant or feeding inside the plant tissue.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Details
Brand Name	Banjo Super
Manufacturer	Insecticides India Limited (IIL)
Technical Name	Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC
Formulation Type	Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC)
Chemical Group	Organophosphate + Synthetic Pyrethroid
IRAC MoA Code	Group 1B (Profenofos) + Group 3A (Cypermethrin)
Mode of Action	Contact & Stomach poison (Systemic & Contact)
Toxicity Label	Yellow (Highly Toxic) / Blue (Moderately Toxic) — Check bottle label
Available Pack Sizes	100 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml, 1 Litre
HSN Code	38089199
Country of Origin	India

Recommended Dosage & Application

Crop	Target Pests	Dose (ml/Acre)	Water (L/Acre)	Dose (ml/Litre)	PHI (Days)
Cotton	Bollworm complex (American, Pink, Spotted), Aphids, Jassids, Whiteflies, Thrips	400 - 600 ml	200 Litres	2.0 - 3.0 ml	14 Days
Vegetables (Brinjal, Okra)	Fruit & Shoot Borer, Jassids, Aphids, Leaf Hoppers	400 - 500 ml	150 - 200 Litres	2.0 - 2.5 ml	7 - 10 Days
Chilli	Thrips, Mites, Pod Borers	400 - 600 ml	150 - 200 Litres	2.0 - 3.0 ml	7 - 10 Days
Paddy (Rice)	Leaf-eating pests, Caterpillars, Borers	300 ml	150 - 200 Litres	As per acre dose	—
Pulses	Borers, Aphids, Whiteflies, Caterpillars	300 ml	150 - 200 Litres	As per acre dose	—
Oilseeds	Aphids, Jassids, Whiteflies, Leaf-eating pests	300 ml	150 - 200 Litres	As per acre dose	—

Note: PHI (Pre-Harvest Interval) is the minimum number of days to wait between the last spray and harvesting. Always refer to the product label for crop-specific recommendations.

When to Use

Apply Banjo Super at the first sign of pest infestation or as soon as pest activity is noticed in the field. Early intervention gives the best results and prevents pests from multiplying and causing significant crop damage.

• Cotton: Apply during the vegetative and flowering stages when bollworm or sucking pest populations cross the economic threshold level.
• Vegetables & Chilli: Apply at the onset of fruit borer or thrips infestation. Repeat if pest pressure continues.
• Paddy & Pulses: Apply when leaf-eating caterpillars or borers are first observed.
• Time of day: Spray during early morning or late evening to avoid rapid evaporation and to protect beneficial insects like bees.
• Weather: Avoid spraying during strong winds or rainfall to prevent spray drift and wastage.
• Repeat application: If pest pressure persists, repeat the spray at 10-15 day intervals as needed.

Step by Step Usage Instructions

1. Check pest level: Inspect your crop to confirm pest infestation has crossed the threshold level before spraying.
2. Calculate quantity: Measure the required amount of Banjo Super based on your crop and acreage using the dosage table above.
3. Prepare the spray solution: Fill the spray tank with half the required amount of clean water. Add the measured quantity of Banjo Super while stirring continuously. Add the remaining water and mix well until the solution turns into a milky white emulsion.
4. Use proper equipment: Use a knapsack sprayer or tractor-mounted sprayer fitted with a flat-fan nozzle for even spray distribution.
5. Apply uniformly: Spray the solution evenly over the entire crop canopy. Ensure good coverage of both upper and lower leaf surfaces, as pests often hide on the underside of leaves.
6. Clean up: After spraying, wash the sprayer thoroughly with clean water. Do not dispose of leftover spray solution or wash water near water bodies.
7. Post-application care: Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after handling the product.

Compatibility

Banjo Super is generally compatible with common fungicides like Mancozeb, Carbendazim, and Hexaconazole. However, do not mix with alkaline substances such as Bordeaux mixture, Lime Sulphur, or other copper-based products. Always perform a small jar test before mixing with any new product to check for physical compatibility. Do not mix with herbicides or other insecticides unless specifically recommended.

Precautions & Safety

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Always wear gloves, a face mask, goggles, and full-sleeved clothing during mixing and spraying.
• During application: Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling or spraying the product. Avoid inhalation of spray mist.
• After use: Wash hands, face, and all exposed body parts thoroughly with soap and water immediately after spraying.
• Storage: Store in a cool, dry place away from food, animal feed, and children's reach. Keep the container tightly closed.
• Environmental safety: This product is toxic to fish and aquatic life. Do not allow the spray solution or container wash water to enter ponds, rivers, or water bodies.
• Disposal: Do not reuse empty containers. Dispose of them safely according to local regulations.

Side Effects & Phytotoxicity

When used as per recommended dosage and application guidelines, Banjo Super is safe for the recommended crops. Avoid over-application or spraying during extreme heat conditions as it may cause stress to the crop. Always follow the recommended dose per acre — do not exceed the specified quantity. This product is toxic to bees and other beneficial pollinators; avoid spraying during flowering hours when bees are active.

PHI / REI & Storage

Parameter	Details
PHI (Cotton)	14 Days
PHI (Vegetables)	7 - 10 Days
PHI (Chilli)	7 - 10 Days
Storage Conditions	Store in a cool, dry place away from food and animal feed