Indian agrochemical industry expected to grow to $1.7bn by 2012

The Indian Agrochemicals Industry is expected to grow at 7.5%, to reach over $1.7 billion by 2012, driven by various factors including need for foodgrain self-sufficiency and the momentum in floriculture and horticulture sectors.

"Increasing population, high emphasis on achieving foodgrain self sufficiency, limited farmland availability coupled with pressure to increase yield per hectare and growth in horticulture and floriculture is expected to increase the usage of agrochemicals in the future," Founder and Managing Director Camson Biotechnologies Dhirendra Kumar, told PTI.

Companies are increasing their marketing efforts to train farmers, among other things, about the right use of agrochemicals in terms of quantity to be used. With increased awareness, the use of agrochemicals will also increase, he said.

Currently, crops lost due to non-use of pesticides is estimated to be around $17 billion every year.

"Indian floriculture industry has grown by 50% in last three years. The National Horticulture Mission targets to double production by 2012. Flourishing horticulture and floriculture industries will need increasing amounts of agrochemicals, especially fungicides," he said.

The Indian agrochemicals market grew at a rate of 11% from $1.22 billion in 2008 to over $1.36 billion in 2009.

India is the fourth-largest producer of agrochemicals in the world after the United States, Japan, and China, he informed.

Bio-fertilisers and bio-cides, are perfect substitutes for chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

However bringing out "change in the mindset of farmers", who have been using the tried and tested chemical pesticides for generations, is one of the biggest challenges that bio fertilisers sector faces.

The sector is striving to woo farmers to switch from chemical pesticides to natural biocides, Kumar said.

Bio pesticides are pesticides derived from natural materials like animal or plant bacteria, and certain minerals. Bio-cides are very effective, eco friendly and non toxic.

While long term fertilisers lead to deterioration in quality and fertility of land, bio fertilisers have no such impact.

"Also with the use of bio-cides, there is a little chance of pest resistance," he added.

"Helicoverpa amigera in cotton, BPH in rice, Spodoptera litura in groundnut have developed manifold resistance due to excessive and indiscriminate use of pesticides. Moreover, pesticides do not always kill all pests present. These pests have a tendency of passing on genes for higher resistance to new generation."

Overuse of pesticides also kill the natural enemies to pests, allowing the pests to reproduce.

"Excessive use of Chloropyriph Monocrotophes leads to resurgence of White-fly and American boll-worm in cotton. Acute food contamination through the use of pesticide is an issue for all developing countries," Kumar said.

Farmers who have witnessed deterioration in quality of their land and have begun experiencing the effects of pollution in the water table, are now being forced to change their traditional practises, he said.

The success of farmers who have made the switch is now giving confidence to other first time users, he added.

"The awareness on impact of chemical pesticide residue and the fact that export of fruits and vegetables from India has increased immensely, had adversely effected the pesticide business and its growth," he said.

The Indian pesticides market is about Rs 8,000 crore and is growing at the rate of 5-7% annually. The Indian pesticide industry with an estimated 1,48,150 mt of production is ranked second in Asia after China and 12th globally.

The global agrochemical industry grew at a CAGR of 9.3% from 2003 to reach $41.7 bn in 2008. North America, European Union and Asia Pacific together consume over 75% of the world's agrochemicals.