Industry should engage with govt to reduce use of fertilizers and pesticides: Narendra Singh Tomar

New Delhi

Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said on June 23 that the private sector should come forward and support the government in reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides in the agriculture sector. This was stated in a FICCI press release.

Addressing virtually the ‘11th Agrochemicals Conference 2022 — Policy Landscape for a Flourishing Agrochemicals Industry’, organized by FICCI with the support of the Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Tomar said that India was agriculture-oriented and that agriculture had a huge contribution in the country’s economy.

“Profit is very important for the farmers in the agriculture sector. (An) increase in production is also necessary. It is imperative to increase the profits in the field of agriculture and post-harvest losses to the farmers should be minimal for which the government is working on several schemes,” he added.

Tomar also stated that the government was promoting the use of newer technology to be adopted by the farmers to produce expensive crops. “Work is also being done to ensure uniformity in production of crops along with ensuring quality in the production”, he added.

The Minister also emphasized that horticulture should be promoted so that India can become self-reliant in every respect.

Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers and New and Renewable Energy, stated that the government aimed to move forward while keeping in mind the benefits for farmers. “With rising population, it is important to focus on food security along with ensuring farmers produce at lower cost and safeguarding the environment.”

He further added that the government was farmer- and business-friendly and worked to remove barriers by amending policy and reforms as and when needed. “It is not only the commitment but conviction of the government to work towards doubling (the) farmers’ income. It is our responsibility to adopt low-cost agrochemicals along with innovations to improve the agriculture sector. We need to also focus on organic fertilizers,” he stated.

Khuba also urged the industry to focus on organic pesticides to mitigate the side-effects of the pesticides currently used as this will take time to adopt.

Vijay Sampla, Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, said that there was a need for the research and development to be communicated to the small and marginal farmers in their language. He also emphasized the need to create more awareness on the use of pesticides to benefit the agriculture sector.

RG Agarwal, Chairman of FICCI Crop Protection Committee and also of the Dhanuka Group, said, “We urge the government to reduce GST rates on pesticides and bring it at 5 per cent like fertilizers so as to benefit small and marginal farmers as well. The government should also provide PLI to (the) pesticides industry to develop the domestic industry as an international manufacturing hub.”

The FICCI-PwC Knowledge paper ‘Policy Landscape for a Flourishing Agrochemicals Industry’ was released during the event.