Latest Molecules With Higher Effectiveness For Sustainable Agriculture is Need of The Hour: Ashok Dalwai, CEO, NRAA

Agro Chem Federation of India (ACFI) conducted it's Annual General Meeting and Plenary Session on the Role of Crop Protection Chemicals in Sustainable Agriculture today i.e., on 9^th September 2022.

Krishi Jagran Team, M.C. Dominic, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, P.S. Saini, Senior Vice President, and Mridul Upreti, DGM, were all present at the general meeting.

The aim of ACFI is to achieve sustainability in the agriculture sector for the overall benefit of all stakeholders. They are committed to promoting the safe & judicious use of agrochemicals and the promotion of new technologies & products that are eco-friendly.

Crop protection chemicals are really crucial for the sustainability of the agriculture sector as they provide farmers with a cost-effective way of improving the yield and quality of their crops. In regard to this, the seminar conducted today mainly focuses on promoting crop protection chemicals in sustainable agriculture.

Parikshit Mundhra, Chairman, ACFI, said, “To avoid the ship-to-mouth syndrome of 1950-60s, it is paramount to enhance our agriculture production at a faster pace than growth in demand due to continuous rise in population. Using technology and precision agriculture practices would help us enhance production on the one hand and maintain ecological balance. Amid ever-increasing environmental concern, sustainable practices are the need of the hour and technology will play a key role in it.”

He also talked about the association promoting judicious and proper use of agrochemicals through the ‘Jago Kisan Jago’ Campaign.

Also present at the occasion, Salil Singhal, Emeritus Chairman, PI Industries, said “I am delighted and honored to talk about sustainable agriculture. Negative perception about pesticides has been spread wrongly without any logic or scientific base. Jointly, we need to correct the perception.”

Another panelist, Ashok Dalwai, CEO, National Rainfed Area Authority said, “In India, the extent of use of pesticide is too low compared with other developed countries. Our country needs the latest molecules with higher effectiveness for sustainable agriculture. AI must become an important component tool. We need to update our farmers about the latest technologies & products available in the market to improve the yield and quality of their crops.”

Dr. SK Malhotra, Director, DKMA also expressed similar views and maintained agrochemical is a crucial agri input for sustainable agriculture in India.

Earlier, setting the tone for the AGM, Dr. Kalyan Goswami, DG, ACFI said, “We have reiterated our commitment to society towards promoting the safe and judicious use of crop protection chemicals and working towards the sustainability of Indian Agriculture.”

Speaking on the topic, Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Former Director General, ICAR, said, “This is the right platform to deliberate and resolve various issues concerning sustainability- be it the welfare of the farmers and country’s interests. For this, ACFI plays a very crucial role.”

Dr. Mohapatra also asked the Agrochemical Federation to work for awareness of the farmers to purchase the right and genuine agri inputs with GST bills and also how to use and when to use agrochemicals.

RG Agarwal of Dhanuka, SK Chaudhary of Safex, Atul Churiwal of Krishi Rasayan Exports, RD Kapoor of PI Industries, Ankur Agarwal, MD of Crystal Crop Protection Ltd., were some of the top industrialists from agri sector present at the event.