Policy Gaps in Crop Protection Sector Threaten India’s Food and Feed Security
26 August 2024, New Delhi: India’s pursuit of national food and feed security is increasingly at risk due to significant gaps in the policies governing the crop protection sector. A recent white paper by the Kisan-Vigyan Foundation (KAKV Foundation) highlights these issues and calls for urgent reforms to safeguard the nation’s agricultural output and economic welfare.
The KAKV Foundation, a think-tank dedicated to enhancing food and feed security in India, has a strong governing council with experts from core sectors of agriculture. Their latest research underscores the vital role of the crop protection industry in sustaining the country’s food supply and outlines the policy deficiencies that currently undermine this sector.
Crop Protection: A Pillar of Food and Feed Security
The foundation’s report stresses that one of the greatest threats to India’s food security is damage caused by pests—commonly referred to as biotic stresses—which can lead to crop losses of up to 40%. Crop protection chemicals, including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, are essential tools that enable farmers to combat these threats, ensuring consistent agricultural yields.
The crop protection sector, therefore, acts as a form of insurance for India’s food and feed security. It is not only crucial for safeguarding crops from pests and diseases but also plays a pivotal role in maintaining the sustainability of agricultural practices, which are increasingly under pressure from climate change and other environmental stressors. Without adequate crop protection, India risks losing its competitive edge in global agriculture and could face severe food shortages, which would have dire consequences for both human populations and livestock.
Policy Gaps Undermining the Sector
The KAKV Foundation’s report identifies several critical policy gaps that hinder the crop protection sector. Firstly, the sector is highly dependent on imports for raw materials, with 70% of exports based on imported ingredients. According to the data released by the WTO, India has emerged as the second-largest exporter of agrochemicals in the world in 2022 with exports valued at $5.5 billion surpassing the USA with exports at $5.4 billion. This reliance on imports makes the sector vulnerable to international market fluctuations and supply chain disruptions. Despite the success of India’s pharmaceutical industry, similar growth in the crop protection sector is hampered by a lack of government support for domestic manufacturing and innovation.
Another significant issue is the regulatory environment, which the report describes as cumbersome and outdated. The slow approval process for new crop protection products stifles innovation and delays the introduction of more effective solutions. This is particularly problematic as new pest and disease challenges continue to emerge, necessitating a more responsive and agile regulatory framework.
Challenges in ‘Make in India’ for Crop Protection
The report also critiques the current ‘Make in India’ initiative for not adequately supporting the crop protection sector. While there have been investments in manufacturing capabilities, these efforts are undermined by policies that still favor imports of ready-made formulations over domestically produced products. The foundation argues that the government should mandate the registration of technical ingredients before the import of ready-made formulations and fast-track the approval of new crop protection chemicals, particularly those developed using green technology.
Additionally, the report highlights the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades, particularly in laboratory testing. The current system is plagued by inefficiencies and corruption, which allows substandard and counterfeit products to enter the market, posing risks to both farmers and consumers. The foundation advocates for the modernization of lab facilities and the implementation of digital technologies to increase transparency and accountability in the testing and approval process.
The Path Forward: Strategic Interventions
The KAKV Foundation’s white paper suggests several strategic interventions to address these challenges. Benchmarking India’s crop protection sector against global best practices is one approach that could help identify areas for improvement and enhance competitiveness. The foundation also calls for increased public and private investment in research and development to drive innovation in crop protection products, particularly those that are environmentally sustainable.
Another key recommendation is to strengthen the enforcement mechanisms governing the sector. This includes cracking down on the production and distribution of spurious crop protection products and ensuring that only high-quality, safe chemicals reach the market. The foundation also emphasizes the importance of farmer education and training, advocating for programs that teach sustainable farming practices and the safe handling of agrochemicals.
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