At a time when the challenge is to ‘produce more from less for more’, the country can ill-afford colossal losses, estimated to be around Rs three lakh crore year after year by pests.
Undoubtedly, pesticides play a significant role in enhancing agricultural production. As per study by IARI, on an average, every one rupee spent on plant protection gives five rupees return, though in certain crops like groundnut, mustard and cotton, the cost: benefit ratio was 1:26, 1:12, and 1: 7 respectively.
I therefore, expect that the Union Budget would provide a sizable fund for education and training of farmers and agri-input dealers. At present, only one-third of the cropped area is under assured plant protection umbrella, and is limited to a few crops and states.
A special provision is expected to encourage area expansion by augmenting 100% seed treatment programme. As per global projections, India is likely to face the largest decline in agricultural productivity (~25%) from climate change in 2050, necessitating proactive initiative of saving avoidable crop losses, by providing special incentives for pesticide industries.
Agrochemicals like chemical fertilizers are essential inputs for achieving significant increase in crop productivity. I do hope that in the ensuing budget, instead of a step-motherly treatment to agrochemicals, the excise duty on pesticides will be abolished, and subsidy component added as in fertilizers, and tractors.
(Author RG Agarwal is Group Chairman of Dhanuka Agritech. The views in the article are personal, not that of CNN-IBN/IBNLive)
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