Pesticide Consumption in Agriculture in India - an Update

lndia is the third largest consumer of pesticides in the world and highest among the South Asian countries. During the last four decades, the consumption of pesticides in India has increased several hundred folds. from 154 MT in 1953-54 to 80.000 MT in 1994-95. However, thereafter the consumption of pesticides steadily declined to the present level of 54,135 MT (based on 1999-2000 demand) (Table 1). The decline was primarily because of ban or restriction on use of organochlorine pesticides such as HCH (BHC), DDT~ aldrin etc. which have high application rates and the introduction of Integrated Pest Management programme. India is also the largest producer of pesticides in South Asia with production of 88,75 1 MT in 1998-99. It is the second largest manufacturer of basic pesticides chemicals in Asia next to China, and number twelve globally. The total installed capacity is about 124,000 MT for the manufacture of 62 technical grade pesticides which meet 95% of the total need of the country. The imports were in the order of 5,569 MT in 1997-98. The total current investment is about Rs. 1,500 crore with a turn over of about Rs. 4,000 crore.