Paper: GS – III, Subject: Indian Economy, Topic: Agriculture – Inputs, Issue: Growth of Herbicides.
Context:
The Indian pesticide market is shifting toward herbicides due to labor shortages, increased mechanization in farming, and evolving crop management practices that require effective weed control for improved agricultural productivity and efficiency.
Key Takeaways:
Growth of Herbicides:
- The Indian crop protection chemicals market is experiencing a significant shift, with herbicides leading the growth.
- While insecticides have traditionally dominated the market, the demand for herbicides is increasing at a faster rate due to several factors.
Market Size and Segmentation:
- The organized domestic crop protection chemicals market in India is valued at approximately Rs 24,500 crore.
Definition: Crop protection chemicals (pesticides) include insecticides (against pests), fungicides (against fungal infections), and herbicides (against weeds).
Drivers Behind Herbicide Boom:
Rural Labour Shortage:
- Manual weeding is time-consuming and physically taxing, with rising wage rates (₹447/day in 2024 vs ₹326 in 2019).
- Labour unavailability during peak weeding season leads to productivity loss.
- Herbicides have become substitutes for physical weeding, akin to mechanisation.
Cost-Efficiency and Timeliness:
- Manual weeding takes 8–10 hours/acre and herbicide application takes 1–2 hours.
- Pre-emergent and early post-emergent herbicides allow preventive weed control, improving yield and reducing effort.
Rise of Preventive Agriculture:
- Farmers increasingly adopt “pre-emergent” sprays at or before sowing (₹550 crore in paddy, ₹200 crore in wheat).
- Smart application techniques reduce nutrient loss to weeds and ensure optimal fertiliser use.
Indian Innovation Examples:
- Crystal Crop’s acquisitions:
- Ethoxysulfuron rights from Bayer (2025)
- Gramoxone (Paraquat-based) from Syngenta (2023)
- Launch of Sikosa (a proprietary blend with Mitsui) reduces costs by over 50% compared to manual weeding.
Structural and Economic Implications and Policy Challenges of Herbicide Use:
India’s growing herbicide market reflects a shift in agriculture due to labor shortages and the need for efficiency. Balanced policies and farmer empowerment are essential for sustainable and inclusive growth in weed control.
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