06 September 2023, New Delhi: GS1 India, a supply chain standards organization set up under the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, and affiliated to GS1 Global, hosted a National Conference on ‘QR Code Implementation on Agri-Input’ last week in New Delhi.
During the inaugural session, Mr. S. Swaminathan, CEO of GS1 India, highlighted the crucial role of QR code implementation in ensuring the quality and safety of agri inputs. He urged stakeholders to go beyond mere compliance and consider the widespread benefits of QR codes for the sector and farmers. He underscored the need for data protection in light of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, urging the industry to adapt.
The inaugural speech was followed by a keynote address by Dr. Brijesh Tripathi, the Deputy Director of CIB&RC, who discussed the implementation of QR codes in the pesticide sector. He projected that QR codes will be part of the Integrated Pesticide Management System, which aims to save farmers from spurious pesticides.
R.G Agarwal, Chairman of Dhanuka Agritech Ltd., delivered a thought-provoking dialogue on the use of inferior formulations and spurious pesticides in farming. He emphasized that proper implementation of QR codes can combat the issues and ensure food security and safety. Special addresses of Dr. Archana Kumari Srivastav, Regional Director, PMFAI, and Mr. Nakul Pasricha, President of Authentication Solution Provider’s Association, stressed the need for timely adoption of QR codes for domain practices for agri-inputs.
The conference featured a session on ‘Standards-based 2D Barcode Implementation’ by Mr. Sebire Laurent, Chairman of CropLife International Traceability Project Team. The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises used the platform to discuss the global standards of financial assistance schemes for implementing barcoding. GS1 experts also discussed how to comply with QR code regulation through Digital Link standards.
