Demand for chemical pesticides likely to slide: Govt

Demand for chemical pesticides in the country is projected to decline to 54,685 tonnes in 2013-14 as compared to last year, Parliament was informed today.

"The demand of chemical pesticides decreases to 54,685 tonnes (projected) in 2013-14 as compared to 58,368 tonnes in 2011-12," Minister of State for Agriculture Tariq Anwar said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

According to the analysis of the data tabled in the House, there was no demand for chemical pesticides from Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Meghalaya for this year, while the demand from most states is estimated higher than last year.

In Madhya Pradesh and Goa, demand for chemical pesticides has been projected to be down at 622 tonnes this year, as against 879 tonnes last year. Similarly, demand has been pegged lower in Goa at 7 tonnes from 9.50 tonnes in the review period, the data showed.

Last year, demand for chemicals pesticides in Jammu and Kashmir stood at 1,738.89 tonnes, Tripura at 497.08 tonnes, Arunachal Pradesh at 18 tonnes and Meghalaya at 9.81 tonnes.

Increase in projected demand for this year was seen in states like Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkhand and Assam.

Anwar said that sufficient quantities of pesticides are available in the country as none of the states and union territories have reported short supply.