Weeds Cause Rs 92000 cr Crop Productivity Losses; Time to Deploy New, Tech-led Weed Control Strategies: Report

A collaborative study by Dr NT Yaduraju, Dr MR Hegde and Dr A R Sadananda and the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) discussed the various weed management practices using herbicides, mechanization of weed removal, crop rotation, cover cropping, biological control among others that can lower costs by 40-60% compared to traditional approaches. Experts said that it can be a game changer for farmers across India. With India’s population expected to reach 1.65 billion by 2050, effectively managing weed infestations will play an important role in boosting agricultural productivity and ensuring long-term food security.

The report was released on Friday at a joint conference by the Directorate of Weed Research and FSII titled ‘Weed Management - Emerging Challenges & Management Strategies’. The report, which surveyed 11 states, 30 districts, 7 crops, and gathered inputs from 3,200 farmers along with 300 dealers, KVKs, and departmental officials, revealed that the average expenditure on weed control per acre varies between Rs. 3,700 and Rs. 7,900. Beyond the issue of high costs, weeds are a leading contributor to crop losses among all biotic stresses, posing a serious threat to agricultural productivity.

Dr S K Chaudhari, Deputy Director General, Natural Resource Management Division, ICAR, emphasized the critical need for the seed sector to stay vigilant and proactive in the field of weed science. He stated, “The collaboration between the private and public sectors is essential to effectively tackle the challenges posed by weeds. As agricultural productivity is increasingly hindered by labor shortages and resource constraints, adopting solutions like mechanization, herbicide-tolerant traits, and precision agriculture becomes imperative to empower farmers.”

"Leveraging unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and adopting advanced technologies such as spectral imaging for weed identification can potentially revolutionize weed management practices. As the scientific community, it is the public sector's responsibility to innovate and develop new technologies, while industry partners must play their role in scaling these solutions and making them accessible to farmers," added Dr Chaudhari.

Dr P K Singh, Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, speaking at the conference regarding potential damage and losses in productivity of various crops due to weed infestation, emphasized the critical need for a robust weed management framework involving traditional, mechanical, chemical and any other innovative solutions in the context of new cropping systems like DSR, Natural Farming, Organic Farming in the present climate change regime and labour constraints. Moreover, “Weed management strategies need to be aligned with the broader agricultural policy to ensure optimization of resource usage, reducing crop losses and enhancing productivity. A technologically innovative, holistic and integrated approach will be the way forward,” he remarked.

According to research presented at the conference, weeds are responsible for approximately 25-26% of yield losses in kharif crops and 18-25% in rabi crops, translating to an annual economic loss of around Rs 92,202 crore in crop productivity across India.

Experts stressed on adoption of innovative solutions, such as mechanized weeding and herbicide tolerant crops, which can reduce labor costs by up to 72%. With labor shortages affecting many regions, mechanized solutions and trait solutions have become not only practical but essential.

Experts at the conference informed that the report surveyed seven major crops including rice, wheat, maize, cotton, sugarcane, soybean, and mustard, that together account for 90.37% of India’s total cropped area. The recommendations for each of these crops have the potential to be a gamechanger for farmers by significantly reducing weed management costs, boosting productivity, and preventing the development of herbicide resistance in weeds over the long term.

Ajai Rana, Chairman of FSII and CEO & MD of Savannah Seeds, also weighed in on the challenges saying, “Technological interventions like AI-driven weed detection, drone-based mapping, and data-backed IWM strategies can redefine weed management in India. With herbicide resistance and shifting weed biotypes posing serious threats, it’s imperative we adopt precision tools that offer real-time insights and elevate our weed control methods to the next level of efficiency and sustainability.”

Emphasizing the crucial role of Herbicide-Tolerant technology, especially in countries where adopting GM technology faces various challenges, Rana noted, “Developing HT crops for existing herbicides through mutation breeding is a promising strategy and alternative. HT crop technology offers cost-effective control against hard-to-manage weeds and wild species competing with the main crop. However, the success and long-term sustainability of this technology depend on integrating it with a comprehensive stewardship program. A robust outreach initiative involving all stakeholders, along with institutional collaboration and oversight, is essential to ensure the effective implementation and success of HT crop systems.”

The inaugural session saw the participation of Dr P K Singh, Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India; Dr J S Mishra, Director, ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research; Dr D K Yadava, assistant Director General – Seeds, ICAR; Dr Rajbir Singh, Assistant Director General- Agronomy, AF & CC, ICAR; Ajai Rana, Chairman, FSII and CEO & MD, Savannah Seeds; Rajvir Rathi, Vice Chair FSII, and Director, Government Affairs, Bayer Crop Science, and Raghavan Sampathkumar, Executive Director, FSII among others.

The conference yielded several actionable recommendations that could prove crucial in shaping policies and practices to strengthen the nation’s food security and make a meaningful impact on the lives of farmers. As the agricultural sector faces unprecedented challenges, the collective efforts of the government, industry, and scientific communities are more vital than ever.

The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, ICAR scientists, renowned researchers, industry experts, and farmers to discuss crucial themes such as labor challenges, mechanization, herbicide use, integrated weed control strategies, and dispelling common misconceptions surrounding herbicide application.