Problems associated with any craft are never invented. They exist and persist in different forms. Their identification is always need based and happens over a period of time. They impact the craft by limiting them, at the same time the solutions remove the limits and provide for newer ways of practicing the same craft. Either introduction of a new element or modification of an existing operation, could be identified as the two major ways by which we enrich the agricultural practices for increasing the productivity. The challenge is whether the increased productivity is sustainable in the long run. It is an impossible task to anticipate and measure the challenges which would arise from the hidden and invisible problems which are bound to show up along the journey. How many times do we recognise that we are doing something at the cost of the something else, is a much bigger problem?

It may be right to point out that productivity comes with its share of inadvertent compromise and surprises. Knowledge behind the agricultural operations is subject to research, innovative findings, and is a function of time and there is no end point to be reached. It is a continuous journey. As is obvious, the economics of production would determine the future and fortunes of a pest control exercise. The emphasis would thus be on increasing the productivity by such an exercise, and the need for solving the issues, related and associated with it.

The science behind agricultural practices have not been understood thoroughly, the means and methods followed over a period of time have been honoured although they are a fall out of the culture and tradition.

India is a predominantly agrarian economy. Of the total GDP ^1,2,  the contribution of agricultural produce is 18.3 % for the year 2024. An almost 1/5 ^th of the contribution commands a relevant attention.

Crop protection chemicals are one of the major and last inputs in an agricultural operation and are applied for preventing the spoilage of crops from pests such as insects, fungi, weeds etc., thereby increasing the agricultural productivity. The last few decades has seen an increased emphasis on ways and means to enhance the agricultural production

The net loss in agricultural productivity has been estimated at 17.50 % ³ due to pests, insects and weeds. It stands in testimony of the importance of the products being manufactured by GHARDA chemicals.

There are two aspects, one sustaining of the agricultural practises mainly w.r.t to pest control by using chemicals and boosting agricultural productivity and the other being methods and techniques and knowhow to protect the environment, profitability of crop protection chemicals, and ensuring fairness in the global eco system.

All products start with a process technology innovation and as the time passes by, there will be issues related to environment, profitability and ensuring of a fair and just global manufacturing system.

There are many chemical companies whose efforts stand out in maintaining a health eco system. High quality of EHS standards complemented by a functioning ETP system, Safety on the shop floor, safe manufacturing operations are a hall mark of the manufacturing plants of many chemical companies. Extensive instrumentation, gadgets, sensors, Thermocouple detectors, DCS systems all go a long way in balancing chemical productivity with

There is a large unmet need in the country as the number of import shipments of agrochemicals has been huge ⁴ as revealed by Volzas import data.

The challenges to achieve the balance includes three main things namely lack of monitoring, regulatory loopholes and farmer awareness. Alack of infrastructure, continued use of restricted chemicals and limited knowledge of safe pesticide use and alternatives like integrated pest management have contributed to the imbalance.

The pesticide residues ⁵ have been detected in water (surface and ground), and soil across various states of India and it does not conform to WHO and BIS standards. The key environmental impacts include soil contamination, water pollution, and loss in biodiversity and health implications of pesticide exposure.

For balancing productivity and sustainability, import substitutes and their manufacturing, regulation of the imports through a fair and just mechanism, delivery of pesticides by suspended release mechanisms, coated crop protection formulations to safeguard from human exposure, innovative processes for profitability, nanotechnology based innovative formulations, integrated effort to train the farmers, shall go a long way.

Bibliography:

1. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=IN
2. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2209412&reg=3&lang=2#:~:text=The%20RBI%20revised%20India’s%20GDP,the%20earlier%20estimate%20of%206.8%25.
3. Crop losses due to insect pests in Indian agriculture: An update January 2004, Indian Journal of Ecology 31(1):1-7
4. https://www.volza.com/p/agro-chemicals/import/import-in-india/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40069475/