BASAI's Annual General Meeting 2023 Highlights the Need for Sustainability of Agri Biologicals

Biological Agri Solutions Association of India (BASAI) organized its Annual General Meeting on September 18, 2023, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, to address various challenges faced by the Bio Agri Industry in the country and globally.

Eminent industry experts and dignitaries from the agri-biological sector attended the Annual General Meeting of BASAI. During the event, Krishi Jagran’s Founder, MC Dominic and Managing Director, Shiny Dominic, were honored by BASAI's Chairperson, Juzar Khorakhiwala, for their significant contributions to the agriculture industry spanning three decades.

The meeting commenced with a welcome address from BASAI's Vice-Chairperson, Sandipa Khanikar. She emphasized the growing importance of biological products for sustainable crop protection and crop nutrition. While the industry is attracting national and international players due to its inherent need, numerous challenges hinder its streamlined growth.

Juzar Khorakiwala, Chairperson of BASAI, addressed the gathering, noting, “Awareness and knowledge about biological products remain relatively low. Unlike fertilizers, seeds, or crop protection products, they are not considered basic inputs by many farmers.” He emphasized the essential nature of sustainability for bio Agri products and the need to ensure their supply and resources, mentioning that the Bio Agri Industry's revenue stands at 250 crores and continues to grow.

The event featured a presentation by BASAI's CEO, Vipin Saini, who outlined the association's initiatives and objectives for the benefit of farmers. He discussed the 16 national members associated with the organization and detailed their primary goals and upcoming projects. Saini also highlighted the negative perception of biological products due to spurious items containing chemicals being sold under the guise of biologicals. He pointed out the lack of structured regulation for biostimulants and similar products compared to dedicated regulations for crop protection and fertilizers.

Dr. Ankita Pandey, Science Policy Advisor at PETA India, underscored the challenges arising from the absence of regulation, with states making independent decisions on regulating this category. This has resulted in unhealthy practices and product bans, hindering availability for growers and creating difficulties for providers.

The event included the soft launch of BASAI E-Books on Natural Farming, Drone Usage, and Vedic Farming by Chairperson Juzar Khorakiwala and Vice-Chairperson Sandipa Khanikar.

Dr. P. K. Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, attended the meeting and emphasized that BASAI was formed to unite industry players in addressing the need for awareness, knowledge dissemination, and regulatory issues related to biologicals in the agriculture sector.

R. K. Goyal, Managing Director of Verdesian Life Sciences, highlighted the goal of making BASAI the apex body for all Bio Agriculture needs, supported by all Agri chemicals and fertilizer associations and their members involved in bioproducts.

Raju Kapoor, Director of Corporate Affairs of Industry and Public Affairs at FMC India, a subsidiary of FMC Corporation, a global agriculture major based in Philadelphia, USA, stressed the urgency of sustainability for biologicals in the agriculture sector to regulate crop protection and fertilizer usage in the country.

Dr. J.K. Sheoran, Nodal Officer at Jay Bajrang Pratishtan (JBP) and Bee-Keeping Consultant, along with Dr. Sarita Bhalla, Retired Consultant (Pharmacology) at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, attended the event and shared their valuable insights on the sustainability of the Bio Agri Industry in the country.