India loses Rs 1,40,000cr as annual crop losses in 2006-07

New Delhi, June 8 (UNI) On account of increased resurfacing of insects, pests and weeds, yearly Indian crop losses have exceeded Rs 1,40,000 crore as on March 2007, a study by an industry chamber has observed.

Assocham has also recommended judicious use of pesticides in 20 per cent of agriculture land to increase fertility and yield.

Poor and inadequate use of pesticides is the primary cause of poor yield of Indian crops as a result of which, a great deal of agriculture production has been adversely suffering, according to Assocham President Venugopal N Dhoot.

Agriculture production will suffer with lower rate of consumption of pesticides in most of the states if India continues to campaign against pesticide use, particularly when it is purely scientific as weeds, pests and insects will surface to eat the standing crop, the chamber holds.

Mr Dhoot has written to a large number of state's Chief Ministers and Agriculture Ministers to support judicious mixture of pesticides in 20 per cent of the country's agriculture land as only this much percentage is covered by pesticides.

The chamber reminds that even the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Chemicals in 2002 have estimated Indian crop losses to the extent of Rs 90,000 crore per annum due to improper and non scientific use of pesticides.

Assocham points out that the biggest challenge the farmers are facing is the knowledge gap that is the communication of agriculture technology to them and its instant practical benefit.

Majority of Indian farmers are not using chemical pesticides and are therefore loosing their investment in seeds, fertiliser, irrigation and labour to pests, diseases and weeds resulting in low perpetual farmer income, the study says.

Per hectare average use of pesticides in India is 0.33 kg/ha in comparison to 3.07 kg/ha in France, 4.17 kg/ha in Italy and 13.14 kg/ha in Japan.

Mr Dhoot says the policy document needs to clearly accept that crop production chemicals are part of technology package which increase the efficiency of agricultural production, productivity and income.

''If our growth of food production has to exceed population growth rate as also for achieving and sustaining agricultural growth rate of four per cent and above, technology inclusive of crop protection needs to be explicitly recognised as essential and must,'' Mr Dhoot says.

The chamber says that organic agriculture is at best a niche market and should be promoted only in regions differentiated for the purpose.

Earmarking some 'virgin' areas for organic agriculture will help the country exploit this market need. This however has to go in concurrence with some good educational and infrastructural investment and policies to make it sustainable.

The chamber has suggested that farmers need proper training and understanding about pesticides and their usage. Increased activity on the plant protection front can offer tremendous job opportunities.

UNI