In recent years, India has seen a sharp rise in the use of crop protection chemicals, particularly herbicides, with the herbicide market expanding at an annual rate of around 10%.  India’s agriculture feeds over a billion people, but protecting crops from pests, diseases, and weeds is a constant challenge. Every year, farmers lose a significant part of their harvest to insects, fungal infections, and unwanted plants that compete for nutrients. This not only reduces food supply but also affects farmer incomes and food prices.

• To tackle these threats, farmers use crop protection chemicals — commonly called pesticides. These include insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides, each designed for a specific purpose. Over the years, these chemicals have helped farmers grow more food on less land, meet rising demand, and deal with problems like labour shortages.
• However, pesticides are not without risks. Misuse can harm people’s health, pollute the environment, and even lead to pest resistance. The challenge today is to strike a balance — using the right products in the right way while also exploring safer, sustainable options.

What Are Pesticides?

Pesticides are a broad category of chemicals formulated to control, repel, or eliminate pests that damage crops, transmit diseases, or affect livestock. Pests in agriculture include insects, fungi, rodents, and weeds.

Types of Pesticides:

• Insecticides – Target and kill insects.
• Fungicides – Control fungal infections such as blast and sheath blight in rice or powdery mildew and rust in wheat.
• Herbicides – Kill or control weeds.
• Rodenticides – Control rodent populations.

India’s domestic crop protection chemicals market is valued at about ₹24,500 crore.

• Insecticides: ₹10,700 crore – largest segment.
• Herbicides: ₹8,200 crore – fastest-growing segment.
• Fungicides: ₹5,600 crore.

The Fastest Growing Segment – Herbicides:

The herbicide market is expanding at over 10% annually, faster than insecticides and fungicides. The main growth driver is agricultural labour scarcity.

Herbicides have effectively become substitutes for manual weeding, much like tractors replaced manual ploughing. They save time, work efficiently in large areas, and reduce dependence on scarce rural labour.

Key Players – Global and Indian

The herbicide market is dominated by multinational companies:

• Bayer AG (Germany) – 15% share
• Syngenta – 12% (China-owned, HQ in Switzerland)
• ADAMA – 10% (China-owned, HQ in Israel)
• Corteva Agriscience (US) – 7%
• Sumitomo Chemical (Japan) – 6%

Indian companies are also entering the segment:

• Dhanuka Agritech – 6% share
• Crystal Crop Protection Ltd (CCPL) – 4% share

Changing Usage Patterns – From Reactive to Preventive

Traditionally, farmers sprayed insecticides and fungicides after observing pests or disease, when control was economically justified. Herbicides were also mostly used post-emergence (after weeds appeared).

Now, preventive spraying is becoming more common:

• Pre-emergent herbicides – Applied at or just after sowing to prevent weed growth.
• Early post-emergent herbicides – Used at early crop stages for better weed control.

Market data:

• Paddy herbicide market: ₹1,500 crore, with pre-emergents making up ₹550 crore.
• Wheat herbicide market: ₹1,000 crore, with pre-emergents at about 20% share.

Significance of the Pesticides: 

1.       Protecting Crops from Damage: Without pesticides, significant crop losses occur — up to 78% in fruits, 54% in vegetables, and 32% in cereals. Weeds compete for nutrients, water, and sunlight; insects consume crops; fungi cause plant diseases.

2.      Ensuring Food Security: By preventing pest damage, pesticides maintain stable yields and keep food prices affordable.

3.      Controlling Disease Vectors
Some weeds harbour pests and pathogens. Herbicides help control these weeds, reducing further crop damage.

4.     Addressing Labour Shortages
Manual weeding takes 8–10 hours per acre and labour costs are rising (₹326.2/day in 2019 to ₹447.6/day in 2024). Labour is also not always available when needed. Power weeders save time but cannot handle deep-rooted or densely growing weeds. Herbicides provide a more efficient alternative.

5.     Supporting Farmer Income
By reducing crop losses and ensuring predictable harvests, pesticides lower production costs and increase farmer earnings.

Challenges Facing the Pesticide Sector:

1.       Health Risks: Exposure to pesticides can cause respiratory issues, neurological disorders, cancers, and poisoning (accidental or intentional).

2.      Environmental Pollution: Residues contaminate soil, water, and air, harming biodiversity. Punjab, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh have reported residue levels above permissible limits.

3.      Weak Regulation: Despite the Insecticides Act, banned pesticides are still sold due to poor enforcement and limited monitoring.

4.     Lack of Farmer Awareness: Many farmers use pesticides incorrectly or excessively, often without protective gear. Usage is often based on vendor advice rather than scientific guidance.

5.     Rising Costs: Repeated applications, pest resistance, and climate change raise production costs and farmer debt.

6.     MNC Monopoly: The crop protection chemicals industry is largely controlled by global companies, unlike seeds and fertilisers where Indian firms have stronger presence.

Government and Industry Initiatives:

1.       Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Aims to keep pest populations below damaging levels with minimal chemical use. The government operates Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) for pest monitoring, producing bio-control agents, and farmer training.

2.      Insecticides Act, 1968: Regulates pesticide manufacture, sale, and use. The Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) registers products and can ban harmful ones.

3.      Pesticide Management Bill, 2020: Proposed to replace the 1968 Act, promote biopesticides, improve quality control, and compensate farmers affected by substandard pesticides.

4.     Promotion of Biopesticides: Efforts are underway to increase use of neem-based and other botanical pesticides, supported by research into chemical-free alternatives.

5.     Indian Manufacturer Expansion: Companies like CCPL are developing innovative products. For example, Sikosa, a patented paddy herbicide, combines Bensulfuron-methyl and Pretilachlor, costs ₹850–900 per acre (vs. ₹2,000+ for manual weeding), and controls multiple weed types.

Conclusion:

Pesticides—whether insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides—are essential for protecting crops, maintaining food security, and supporting farmer incomes.

The herbicide segment is growing rapidly, driven by labour shortages and a shift toward preventive weed control. Indian companies are making progress, but the sector remains dominated by multinational corporations.

For sustainable growth, India needs:

• Stronger regulation and enforcement.
• Greater farmer education on safe pesticide use.
• Wider adoption of eco-friendly alternatives.
• Investment in Indian manufacturing and research.

Balancing productivity with health, environmental, and economic concerns is key to building a safer and more self-reliant pesticide sector.