Full implementation of India’s IPMS can help tackle fake pesticide, says insecticide board official

India can eradicate the menace of counterfeit pesticides sold to farmers if the National Integrated Pest Management System (IPMS) is fully implemented, said Subhash Chand, Secretary (Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee -CIB&RC), Ministry of Agriculture.

Speaking at the National Conference on ‘AI for Agriculture Transformation’ organised by CropLife India in New Delhi on Thursday, he said the National IPMS database enables track-and-trace, ensuring authenticity of the products through an established dealer network.

He urged the industry to collectively come together to develop an AI-based tool or app that will help farmers identify pests and make informed decisions on the right pesticide, at the right time and in the right dose. He said harnessing technology can strengthen scientific and responsible crop protection practices at the farm level.

CropLife India is an industry body that represents 17 research and development (R&D) driven companies in the crop protection sector.

During a panel discussion by CEOs, Ankur Aggarwal, Executive Chairman & MD of Crystal Crop Protection, said the industry will witness more proximate innovations, beyond discovery for each mode of action. He said robotics could also play a major role in the future.

Gyanendra Shukla, MD & CEO of Rallis India, said that digital channels would become quite important and impact margins. He further said that AI can define the next phase of growth for the industry.

Mohan Babu, COO, Bayer CropScience, said that the industry would shift to an integrated approach, beyond just chemicals or biological solutions, involving technology like AI, enhanced seeds and gene editing.

Giridhar Ranuva, Business Director at BASF Agricultural Solutions, said the role climate change will play, with outcome-based agriculture gaining significance.

Rahul Dhanuka, MD of Dhanuka Agritech, said that solutions that India builds, including AI-based applications, will democratise mechanisation and the rest of the world will draw from India’s experiences. The panel discussed the industry’s outlook for 2035.

CropLife India unveiled a report in partnership with Yes Bank at the conference. The report titled “Innovation in Crop Protection Sector”, expects India’s net sown area to shrink by 10 per cent due to conversion of land for urban uses by 2050.

It pegged the loss of crop yield due to pests and diseases at ₹ 2 lakh crore. It said these pressures will further intensify due to climate change and called for increasing per hectare yield, which includes arresting such losses.

The report stressed reforms in the sector, including more digitalisation, enhancing farmer extension services, promoting domestic R&D through incentives like the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, One Nation One Licence that is valid across states, and a five-year Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) incentive to encourage entry of newer crop protection solutions in the country.