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HomePosts Tagged "agrochemical industry in India" (Page 3)
Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Company News, India

BAL also received the registration for indigenous manufacturing of another crucial pesticide Kresoxim Methyl Technical u/s 9 (4) in the RC meeting.

Best Agrolife Limited, a leading player in the Indian agrochemical industry, has been granted registration for the indigenous manufacturing of Pyroxasulfone technical u/s 9(3) by Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee in the 440th meeting. With this Best Agrolife Limited (BAL) will become the first Indian agrochemical company to manufacture Pyroxasulfone Technical in India. BAL also received the registration for indigenous manufacturing of another crucial pesticide Kresoxim Methyl Technical u/s 9 (4) in the same RC meeting.

 Pyroxasulfone is a novel pre-emergence herbicide for wheat, corn, and soybean. Wheat is the primary cereal crop in India. The total area under the yield is about 29.8 million hectares in the country. While the area harvested for corn across India in 2021/2022 was 9.7 million hectares the Kharif acreage under soybean in the 2021 Kharif season was 120 lakh hectares. Pyroxasulfone controls the problematic weeds in these crops and ensures their better quality and higher yields. It acts by inhibiting the biosynthesis of very long-chain fatty acids in plants. As compared with other commercial herbicides it has lower application rates and higher efficacy against broadleaf weeds.

The market size of Pyroxasulfone is approximately Rs 450 crore at present and its demand will increase further in the coming years. Until now India was dependent on other countries for Pyroxasulfone. However, now under the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, it will be manufactured indigenously and will be easily available to the farmers. This will prove to be highly beneficial for them as they will get a high-quality product at a better price.

“This new development is of paramount importance for our company and we strongly believe it will play a decisive role in achieving our goals. Our company is focused on developing cost-effective and sustainable crop solutions which benefit farmers across multiple crops and our comprehensive product portfolio is a testimony to that. With these new pesticides in our product portfolio we will be able to contribute more to efficient global food production in the future,” said Mr. Vimal Alawadhi, Managing Director – Best Agrolife Limited.

BAL also received the registration for indigenous

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Opinions

By S.K. Chaudhary, Founder & Director, Safex Chemicals

India’s population stands at a whopping 140 crores, with trends aggressively pointing to a rise. In such a scenario, it is pivotal for the country to be assured that its resources will be enough to fulfil the needs of its people in times to come. While agriculture is vital to create adequate food resources, agrochemicals are a fundamental element of agriculture to guarantee food security for everyone in the time to come.

The demand for food security is at the Centre stage, with a robust agrochemical industry being its backbone. To guarantee the same and meet its rising needs, the agrochemical industry in India was valued at a massive $4.5 billion in the year 2020. The industry is now expected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.6 per cent between 2021 to 2026 and is projected to culminate to a value of almost $7.4 billion by 2026. While India is currently food-sufficient, challenges like constant population growth and severe climate change threaten India’s current food security status.

The case of the Indian agrochemical industry

All the chemicals used to enhance crop yields like pesticides and fertilizers are known as agrochemicals. These also include insecticides, herbicides and fungicides that protect the crops from the severe risk of attack from insects and animals. In addition, we also have soil conditioners, which work by enhancing the overall soil fertility. It may surprise you that India alone is the fourth-largest producer of agrochemicals worldwide after the USA, Japan, and China. But the value of domestic consumption of agrochemicals in India is only $2.72 billion, while products worth $3 billion are exported globally. Witnessing the rising demand for food and constant population growth, agrochemicals today are the most practical method for improving crop yields and meeting the increasing demand for food worldwide. They are widely used in fields to protect crops and maximise output.

There are many statements claiming the dangers of agrochemical use. However, they are not entirely true. While all agrochemicals go through extensive toxicity tests prior to their use, modern technologies and newer chemistries in their manufacturing have curbed environmental impact to a great extent. Agrochemicals are highly diluted, sufficient for tiny pests but not harmful to humans. Lastly, crops break down and synthesise the chemicals, which remain in their system only for a short time. Therefore, the claims that all modern agrochemicals are dangerous for humans, and the environment are often untrue and sometimes falsely magnified.

The globalisation of the agrochemical industry

Globalisation has been a game-changer for the agricultural industry, wherein growth has been rapid. As per estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, a few decades ago, growth in agriculture was roughly 3 per cent, which has transitioned to almost 6% now. Globalisation has opened several avenues from technology exchange to international trade, further offering an enhanced knowledge base, better know-how on crop production, and newer methods for boosting yields.

Doors have opened for agriculture and its complementary support arm — the agrochemical industry, which has followed the lead to derive benefits from this cause. Today, enhanced investments in agricultural infrastructure, the opening of free trade between economies and facilitating private sector activity in the agrochemical industry have led to its time in the sun. Globalisation has made farming a more formal profession in India. Farmers today are more conscious about their agricultural efforts to generate ample income while meeting consumer demands. The agrochemical industry has been ensuring this aspect sustainably by supporting the production of the most excellent yields from the farmer’s cultivated land.

Future ahead

As the population increases, the demand for food products will also rise. However, the landmass available for agriculture is gradually shrinking due to the heightened effect of urbanisation. This will provide an impetus for the farmers to use different agrochemicals to increase land productivity, maintain soil health and enhance yields. Post advancements in know-how being offered by globalisation and the integration of agrochemicals into farming practices is clearly the safest and most practical option to support the overall food security and propel the industry’s growth rate in India

By S.K. Chaudhary, Founder & Director, Safex