AgroPages-Indian pesticides export likely to grow by 10%-Agricultural news

NEW DELHI: The pesticide exports are on growth trajectory and the industry expects to register a 10 per cent growth this year despite the rupee continues hover around record sub-40 levels against a dollar.

"The export growth would be at least 10 per cent this year even though the rising rupee is a concern," Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) Chairman R G Agarwal told PTI on the sidelines of a function here.

Pesticides are exported to Europe, US, Japan and many other countries, leading pesticide manufacturer PI Industries Chairman and Managing Director Salil Singhal said.

Singhal said the pesticides export has doubled in the past five years and the current annual estimate stood at Rs 1,800-2,000 crore.

"The demand for Indian pesticides is high even as the number of chemicals registered as pesticides is low at about 200," he said, adding even Vietnam has 432 registered pesticides while US has over 700.

Earlier, speaking at a press meet, Singhal demanded that the government take steps to minimise the agricultural losses due to pest attacks. The losses are estimated at Rs 1.4 lakh crore, taking an average loss of 20 per cent of total annual farm output that is pegged at Rs 7 lakh crore.

He said the domestic consumption of pesticides in agriculture would grow to Rs 10,000 crore during the 11th Five-Year Plan from the present level of Rs 4,000 crore, provided conducive steps are taken.