PMFAI inaugurates annual International Crop – Science Conference & Exhibition 2021 virtually following COVID-19 norms

The Pesticides Manufacturers & Formulators Association of India (PMFAI) today inaugurated its annual International Crop – Science Conference &Exhibition (ICSCE) on a 3D virtual platform and welcomed 400 delegates from all over the world. Adapting to the changing norms of hosting meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), the conference and the exhibition will be held virtually till 29th January with an extended exhibition till 2nd February 2021.

Nearly 400 delegates from all over the national & international virtually joined the inauguration of the biggest and only agri-input trade show in India that brings together distributors, suppliers, technical executives, R&D professionals, manufacturers, exporters and importers, agronomists, research institutions, scientists, traders, journalists, supply chain managers and co-operatives, ventures capitalists and financial representatives, service providers, farmers and dealers, allied chemicals and packaging material suppliers, seed companies, manufacturers of spraying and irrigation equipment, plantation and horticultural producers, manufacturers and distributors of agrochemicals, bio-pesticides, bio-fertilizers& micronutrients. Besides, key government officials, policy makers and researchers, industry associations, chambers of commerce, and everyone involved directly or indirectly with the segment of the agricultural input have been attending the knowledge-oriented sessions for insightful deliberations.

In its 15th edition, the International Crop – Science Conference & Exhibition will provide 3D view of the booths; video conferencing facility for sponsors and exhibitors with participants; access to networking lounge; tech-enabled services such as chat messaging, instant emailing, and exchange e-business card. Leading names participating this year include UPL Limited, Croda India Company Pvt Ltd, Sulphur Mills Ltd, Hikal Limited, Solvay Specialities India Pvt Ltd and many more.

“ICSCE is one of the most-awaited events in the agri-input industry since 1997 and has seen growth trajectory of the Indian agrochemical industry valued at USD 6.4 bn and is growing at a rate of 8 to 10 percent every year. When PMFAI started the event, the export segment of the Indian agrochemical industry was USD 60mn, which has now reached USD 3.4 bn, riding on the wide range of formulations produced in India. This year, ICSCE is being attended by 400 national and international delegates, and we have 9 as our special invitees. Unlike other years, PMFAI is hosting the conference and exhibition virtually in keeping with the COVID-related norms. The ICSCE 2021 comes at a critical time as the agri input industry in India is at a crossroads – the bumper harvests and good rains are pushing the revenue graph higher. On the other hand, government policies on registration of technical’s for imported formulations and customs duty is diluting our competitive advantages,” says Mr. Pradip Dave, President, PMFAI.

The ICSCE 2021 has 30 booths this year as against 50 every year, exclusively for agri inputs companies such as agrochemicals, fertilizers, biological pesticides and ancillary units, were visiting delegates can discuss businesses with the Indian companies for joint ventures, joint R&D, contract manufacturing, and explore opportunity to expand the distribution network for agrochemical products for better market reach, product procurement and plan procurement from the Indian companies, who are among Asia’s second largest agrochemicals manufacturers.

The conference and exhibition are organised by PMFAI, an industry body comprising more than 200 small, medium, and large-scale Indian pesticide manufacturers, formulators, and traders, to encourage exports of agrochemicals from India and bilateral trade.