India’s agricultural yields have improved due to the adoption of intensive agriculture practices that gained popularity after the green revolution. Interestingly, the yield loss estimates due to pests also showed a substantial increase between the early 1960s and early 2000s. The adoption of monoculture of commercial crops and intensive agricultural practices are the prime reasons for higher pest attacks. The yield loss due to pests, which was about 25 per cent in fruits, 18 per cent in cotton, and 10 per cent each in rice and sugarcane in the early 1960s, took a rapid stride to reach the level of 50 per cent in cotton, 30 per cent in sorghum and millets, 25 per cent in rice and 20 per cent in sugarcane. The situation thus warrants the use of suitable pesticides to control crop loss.
Pesticides, Insecticides, Bio-pesticides, Food security
Government of India. (2021). Government of India. (2021). Chemical and Petrochemical Statistics at a Glance – 2021. Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
FAO. (2021). Pesticide Use Data-FAOSTAT. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/ #data/RP
https://pan-india.org/pesticide-management-bill-2020/
http://ppqs.gov.in/statistical-database
http://ppqs.gov.in/divisions/cib-rc/registered-products
Statista. (2021). Agrochemical market value worldwide.
