Quality pesticides needed to improve crops

The pesticide manufacturing industry should avoid unhealthy competition and work to provide quality products to farmers, D Konar, director of the agriculture department of the government of West Bengal, said here yesterday.

Having attained self-sufficiency in food grain production, the state should now concentrate on improving quality of agricultural produce through a concerted and joint effort from all stakeholders.

Addressing the 19th annual general meeting of the Eastern India Pesticide Association at the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Konar said farmers were being exposed to competition from national and international growers but they were not in a position to compete.

"Quality should be a concern and all stake holders along with pesticide manufacturers should come forward to the rescue of farmers," he said. Pesticide manufacturers should focus on developing integrated pest management systems and better products that would help improve quality of agricultural produce in the state, Konar added.

Non-government organisations, private bodies and central government agencies would have to work together. This would help farmers become more competitive in the national and international arena.

Pesticide manufacturing units were urged to develop molecules with broader spectrum. These would be more effective and reduce cost. Superior pesticides and fertilisers would give farmers in Bengal an edge over their counterparts in other states and countries.

Konar said the state's farming sector produced in excess of demand but efforts to develop exports had failed as the output was not competitive in terms of quality.

The agriculture department was developing programmes and tie-ups to help farmers offload excess production.