Agrochemical Industry
&
Sustainable Development
Anil Kakkar
Vice President
Excel Crop Care Ltd.
The Green Revolution Era witnessed
important role played by
•Seeds
•Fertilizers &
•Pesticides
in increasing the Production & Productivity, for
food security of the Country
Major Pests & Diseases like Phalaris
minor, Heliothis, Stem Borer, BPH,
Late Blight could not have been
controlled without help of
Agrochemicals.
Which has saved valuable crop yield
& benefited farmers & country.
“Grain Saved is Grain
Produced”
The Food Grain Storage Protection is
possible due to Pesticides &
knowledge imparted by the
Agrochemicals industry for the
correct use of these pesticides.
Food Security
• Demand by 2020 (population 1.3 billion) : 300
million tons
• Food grain production must increase by 5 million
tons a year
• Need to produce more food and other agricultural
commodities per unit of
a) Land b) Water c) Energy d) Time
Share of Losses Caused by Different Pests
Rodents & Others
15%
Weeds
33% Diseases
26%
Insects
26%
On an average 18% of the crop yield is lost due to pests
(Annual monetary loss: Rs.60,000 Crores
Source:Working Subgroup on Plant Protection, Planning Commission, 2001) NCIPM
Need of Crop Protection Chemicals
• Crops compete with 80,000 plant diseases, 30,000
weed species, 10,000 insects and 3,000 worms
• We would spend 30% more of our income on food
without them
• Insects destroy enough grain to feed 1/2 the
population of Africa - even with crop protectants
Hence Agrochemicals
are essential for
Sustainable Development
in Agriculture
PESTICIDES
FERTILIZERS
LABOUR
SEED
LAND
Pesticides are the last input in the Agricultural
operation, which protects all the other inputs,
when significant investment is already done
India’s Fertilizers Vs Pesticides Consumption
Country World Share (%) Rank
China 25 I
USA 14 II
India 12 III
World average fert. consumption : 104.2 Kg/ha
India’s average fert. consumption: 106.2 Kg/ha
Source: FAO( Year: 2001-02) & Agrl Statistics at a Glance
In pesticides consumption, India ranks 48th ! India is
placed close to countries such as Estonia, Senegal, Algeria etc!
Source: National Centre for Agrl Economics & Policy Resources.
Agrochemicals provided best tool for
the farmers for crop protection :
Easy & Cheap
Which has increased the reliance of
farmers on Agrochemicals.
Reliance on any one component is not good
Integration of all the components
For Sustainable Development
Components of I.P.M.
Integration of all the methods is essential.
Integration of all Agencies
Agrochemical Companies are best suited & equipped to
meet & educate farmers.
Alone Govt. may not be able to carry out education &
extension services.
Shift from I.P.M. to I.C.M.
I.N.M. & I.P.M. – should be
integrated, they are not separate in
actual field.
Soil health & Soil management
The knowledge of disease & Weed
Management is very low.
Clean cultivation process.
Other Agronomic Practices
BT Technology is a component of
I.P.M.
But sole reliance on BT will not be
sustainable.
Hence integration of various
technologies will be good for
sustainable development
Organic Farming
New breed of customers, willing to
pay high price.
Need to demark organic zone
Export its produce & feed rich
Organic Farming should not be
promoted as negative publicity
against Agrochemicals
Extension Services
Agrochemicals are performance
chemicals
Role of education for correct
application is vital.
Agchem Industry is best equipped to
impart knowledge
We are closest to farmers than others
OUR ULTIMATE AIM
EMPOWER the farmers from
Recommendation Informed
Seeker Decision Maker
( Confident, Knowledgeable,
Empowered farmers)
Consumption of Pesticides
Country Pesticide
consumption (Kg/ha)
India - 0.38
USA - 1.5
Germany - 3.0
Japan - 10.8
Taiwan - 17.0
South Korea - 16.6
Italy - 13.4
Hungary - 12.6
China - 2.25
Consumption of Pesticides in India is
very low as compared to compared
to world.
Awareness is also low in many areas
with low productivity.
Hence Agrochemicals should be
promoted in correct manner in these
areas.
Negative publicity against
Agrochemicals will lead to imbalance
& un-sustainability.
Thank You