Pests destroy Rs 2 lakh crores worth of crop yield/year in India

According to a CropLife India-Yes Bank report, pests are estimated to cause an annual loss of INR 2 lakh crores worth of crop yield.

The conference:

The entity hosted a national conference featuring key agriculture ministers, government officials, experts, academia, and industry leaders. Yes Bank was the Knowledge Partner for the event.

The National Conference discussed India’s potential as a global food hub, emphasizing the importance of sustainable crop protection solutions. The Inaugural Session discussed the growth of Indian agriculture as the world’s emerging food basket and the crucial role of states. The Plenary Sessions I and II focused on women driving Indian agriculture growth and innovations for new-age farmers, respectively. The Valedictory Session discussed the significant role of agrochemicals in the growth of Indian agriculture.

The report was released during CropLife India’s 43rd AGM.

Report highlights:

In India, pests are estimated to cause an annual loss of INR 2 lakh crores worth of crop yield.

Indian agriculture is providing food to a population of 1.43 billion.

Contrary to popular belief, crop protection usage in India is only 0.37 kg/hectare, compared to 11.24 kg/hectare in Japan.

CropLife India anticipates State Governments to play a crucial role in establishing a public-private pathway for capacity building and awareness creation.

Drone techs are revolutionizing agri-input delivery, application, and market linkage. Agtech is enhancing crop protection solutions and promoting entrepreneurship in rural areas, thereby transforming crop protection and income generation.

India, after China, is now the second-largest exporter of agrochemicals globally. It is a significant player in the global crop protection industry.

India’s crop protection industry is transitioning from a product-centric to a sustainable solution-centric approach, offering beyond-crop protection to farmers.

State governments play a crucial role in facilitating the ease of doing business and the ease of doing agriculture.

The attendee voices:

Mr Kakani Govardhan Reddy, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Andhra Pradesh:
“The state government is dedicated to educating farmers about how to better use new technology in agriculture. This has resulted in a number of innovative initiatives like “E-KYC Know Your Crop.” The aim is to give farmers access to crucial digital resources. To further support inclusive agricultural practices, the state is thinking about implementing the State Minimum Support Price Act.”

J. P. Dalal, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Haryana:
“We are encouraging Haryana farmers to diversify their crop portfolios and produce in accordance with market demands. The 550-acre Ganaur market currently being built will be bigger and better than markets in developed nations like Spain and France. The market would give farmers access to facilities for block and tehsil-level grading, packaging, and sorting. It will also assist in the export of high-quality goods to foreign markets.”

Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Chairman, Empowered Committee Doubling Farmers’ Income, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India:
“It is important to encourage data-based research studies and develop public-private partnerships. Providing better technologies to the farmers will help them to increase productivity and production.”

Dr. P. K. Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India:
“Adopting the ‘One Health’ approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and the environment is essential for the development of the country. The urgency lies in the role of technology in enabling multiple crop cycles in the same field, educating farmers, and reframing the perception of agrochemicals.”

Dr. S. C. Dubey, ADG (Plant Protection), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India:
“Agrochemicals are essential for crop loss reduction, productivity increase, and nutrient/water management. R&D investment is crucial for sustainable agriculture, prioritizing environmental sustainability, farmer well-being, and long-term profitability.”

Dr. K. C. Ravi, Chairman, CropLife India:
“The introduction of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and drones would pave the way for innovation. It would also help introduce new products to address the current and upcoming challenges farmers face. A predictable, stable, and science-based policy and regulatory regime is essential for properly developing the crop protection sector as India becomes a major global food hub.”

Ms Chhavi Rajawat, the first MBA Sarpanch, Sangeeta Bojappa, Dr. Anupama Singh, IARI Scientist, and Nisha Solanki, the first woman drone pilot of Haryana, discussed women’s role in Indian agriculture growth.

CropLife India commitment:

CropLife India is committed to delivering safer crop protection innovations and educating farmers on responsible use while also fostering a science-based, pragmatic, and stable regulatory environment for Indian agriculture.

CropLife collaborates with farmers, scientists, and policymakers to tackle challenges, but research costs have increased, estimated at Rs 2,000 crores. A progressive policy environment fostering innovation is crucial for Indian agriculture’s success and competitiveness.

Indian, Ukranian, and Kenyan farmers are the most concerned about climate change, a new survey reveals.

Globally, more than 70% of farmers have seen large impacts of climate change on their farms, the global research across 8 countries states.

Demographic spotlight:

The importance of fertilizer costs becomes most apparent in Kenya, India, and Ukraine.

India:

Indian smallholder farmers are focused on mitigating risk. In addition to the global survey, Bayer interviewed 2,056 Indian smallholder farmers from its customer base.

Challenges:

Currently, the biggest challenges for Indian farmers are high labor and fertilizer costs. They are also impacted by climate change.

• 42 % farmers expect reduced crop yields
• 31 % expect higher pest pressures because of changing weather

Unlike commercial and large-scale growers, the smallholders interviewed in India are focused on mitigating risks, prioritizing financial security through insurance (26%) and infrastructure (21%).

When asked about the future, 60% said they would benefit most from access to digital technologies and modern crop protection.

Despite all the challenges, Indian smallholders remain optimistic as 8 in every 10 farmers feel positive about the future of farming.

Ukraine:

In Ukraine, 70% of farmers named fertilizer costs as one of the top three challenges. The authors drew parallels with the concrete materialized consequences a war can impose on farmers in the country.

Highlights:

• Forty percent named general disruption due to war and conflict as a top challenge.
• More than three-quarters (77%) state that climate change has already largely impacted their farm
• More than 80% are already taking or planning to take steps to directly apply measures to reduce greenhouse gases.
• 43 % are either using (or intend to) cover crops by using renewable energy or biofuels (37%).
• The farmers are also using innovative seeds to reduce fertilizer or crop protection use (33%)
• Alongside this, every farmer claims to already apply or plans to apply measures to help biodiversity
• Over half (54%) say they already apply measures to protect insects, such as insect hotels, or plan to do so in the next three years
• Over half (53%) say access to seeds and traits designed to better cope with extreme weather would most benefit their farm
• 50% called for better crop protection technology
• 42% said that better access to irrigation technology would benefit their farm

Looking at their practices, improving efficient land use, diversifying crops, and better soil health were ranked as the most important routes to success, the authors said in the survey.

Global highlights:

According to the survey titled: Farmer Voice, 71% of farmers say that climate change already has a large impact on their farm, and even more are worried about the impact this will have in the future.

Three-quarters of farmers globally (76%) are worried about the impact that climate change will have on their farm, with farmers in Kenya and India most concerned, the authors noted in the survey report.

• Climate impacts estimated to have reduced farmer incomes by 15.7% on average over the past two years
• Most pressing short-term challenges dominated by economic uncertainty and cost concerns
• 73% farmers have experienced increasing pest and disease pressure
• One in six farmers identified income losses of over 25% during this period
• Four in 5 farmers have already taken or plan to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Life science company Bayer commissioned Kekst CNC, an independent agency to interview 800 farmers globally. These included large and small farmers from Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Kenya, Ukraine, and the United States in equal numbers.

Farmers expect the repercussions of climate change to continue, said Rodrigo Santos, Member of the Board of Management, Bayer AG; and President, Crop Science Division.

Challenges:

While climate change is a dominant overarching theme, economic challenges are the biggest priority over the next three years.

Over half (55%) of farmers placed fertilizer costs among the top three challenges. This was followed by energy costs (47%), price and income volatility (37%), and the cost of crop protection (36%).

Farmers around the world largely share a common view about the challenges of today and the prospects for the future. While there are slight differences between countries, the overarching issues of climate change and economic pressures are of similar concern to all.

Farmers are facing multiple and related challenges. “But despite this, we found that they are hopeful – almost three-
quarters say they feel positive about the future of farming in their country,” Mr. Santos said.

“Farmers are already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change on their fields, and at the same time, they play a key role in tackling this huge challenge. The losses reported in this survey make the direct threat climate change poses to global food security crystal clear. In the face of a growing world population, the results must be a catalyst for efforts to make agriculture regenerative,” he said.

Tag: Farmers

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