United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) today launched rice herbicide 'Saathi' in Uttar Pradesh, a major paddy producer in India.

The product would control all types of weeds and cost about Rs 1,000 a acre, increasing the farmers' profit margin, Head (integrated business unit) Bhupen Dubey said. He said the biggest challenge for the paddy farmers was unavailability of labour to remove weeds.