The latest problem to hit the country’s agriculture sector is substandard, spurious/counterfeit pesticides, which apart from causing crop loss and damage to soil fertility, leads to loss of revenue to farmers and the government.
This according to a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) study on `` Sub-standard, Spurious/Counterfeit Pesticides in India’’ was released on the theme ‘Menace of Spurious/Counterfeit Pesticides in India’ conducted recently.
The report notes that India has fairly well developed agro- chemicals industry, with a size of about Rs. 25,000 crores, which not only caters to the domestic demand, but also undertakes substantial exports. Judicious usage of pesticides/agrochemicals is very important for the sustained growth of Indian agriculture and economy.
India faces a challenge of non-genuine pesticides in the market, which can be counterfeit, spurious, adulterated or sub-standard.
It is estimated that they constitute about 30 per cent of the total market and incidence is increasing at a dangerous pace.
The survey found that the incidence of spurious/counterfeit pesticides sector is to the extent of 25 per cent by value and 30 per cent by volume in the country.
``The problem is at the rate of 20 per cent per year and if not addressed will reach level of 40 per cent by value by 2019. The worst affected states include -- UP, MP, AP, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka,’’ noted the study.
