Widen plant protection to cut crop loss, say experts

To contain the loss of 10-30 per cent of crops produced in the country due to pest attacks, there is a need to widen the plant protection umbrella and propagate the 'judicious' use of pesticides, experts said on Wednesday.

Currently the plant protection coverage is merely 20-25 per cent of the cultivated area, the experts said adding that the government should take a policy decision to increase it to 50 per cent in the next five years.

"The cost benefit ratio of pesticides is 1:5. A spending of about Rs 6,000 crore on pesticides to cover additional cropped area will save crops worth Rs 30,000 crore every year, indeed a huge benefit to our rural economy," P I Industry Chairman and Managing Director Salil Singhal said.

According to the official data, the crop loss in 2005-06 is estimated to be in the range of Rs 50,000 to 1.48 lakh crore. The crop losses due to pests, weeds and diseases is assessed to be 10-30 per cent of crop production.

Pests are affecting the standing crops and grains across the country. The estimated loss in rice is highest to the tune of over $2 billion, and this is followed by sugarcane, pulses and wheat.

As a result, for the last six years, the food grain production has stagnated at 210 million tonnes and has created pressure on the government to import food grains.

Singhal said, the government's recent initiative to provide 100 per cent seed treatment for all crops needs to go up to provide the plant protection umbrella for the entire life-cycle of the crop, as also to prevent post-harvest losses from pests and rodents.

Singhal further said, "The step-motherly treatment to pesticides in terms of fiscal measures needs to change. There is no excise duty on fertilizers, seeds and farm implements, where as a 16 per cent excise duty, which is levied on pesticides must be brought at par with other agricultural inputs."

"The only way to step up food production is to increase our farm productivity through modern technology and scientific inputs, including pesticides. However, a lot of controversy has been created on the use of pesticides. It has misled many farmers in the country," Punjab Agriculture University, Director of Research, N S Malhi said.

Dispelling the myth that pesticide treated crops have health hazards, Singhal said, "The government will not allow a pesticide to be sold unless it has been through an intensive toxicological study. No product can be introduced or continued to be sold, if it can cause cancer or other health problems."