Agrochemicals worth Rs 3,475 cr sold in India not genuine

One-fourth of total agrochemical products worth Rs 3,475 crore sold in India per annum are not genuine, Tata Strategic Management Group has said.
India is the fourth largest producer of crop protection chemicals globally. The domestic crop protection industry's valuation stood at USD 2.3 billion in 2014 with the sector tipped to reach USD 4.2 billion by FY2018-19, the Group said in a report.
"Proliferation of non-genuine products amounting to Rs 3,475 crore per annum, 25 per cent of total domestic market, adds to the woes. There have been several efforts to address this problem by all stakeholders," the report said, which is also a part of FICCI's policy advocacy paper.

It also mentioned that Agriculture Department officials have seized non-genuine materials and customs authorities have taken actions. Besides, several awareness programmes have been organised by industry players. However, they are all in isolation and not synchronised.
"Our endeavour through this study is to highlight the significant impact non-genuine pesticides have on food security of India. It is a loss-making preposition for all stakeholders and it must be curbed immediately," Tata Strategic Management Group (TSMG) CEO Raju Bhinge said in a statement.
TSMG Practice Head (Chemical) Manish Panchal added that the report highlights systemic failure in tackling the menace of spurious pesticides.

A collaborative approach by farmers, industry players, government and regulatory agencies have the potential to curb it, he added.