CropLife India, an industry body representing 17 leading crop protection companies, urged the government to address the limited range of crop protection solutions currently available to Indian farmers. According to the organisation, Indian farmers have access to around 380 active ingredients (AIs), compared with approximately 1,200 AIs available globally. CropLife India cautioned that restricting existing crop protection products without introducing better alternatives could further limit farmers’ choices.
CropLife India Proposes Two-Pronged Approach
To address the gap, CropLife India has proposed a two-pronged approach. First, it recommends that any restriction on existing crop protection molecules should rely on established scientific literature and evidence, including contextual safety, health and efficacy data. The assessment should also consider the potential impact on farmers. Second, the industry body has called for the introduction of Regulatory Data Protection (RDP) for five years within India’s regulatory framework. RDP would protect regulatory data generated during the registration of new crop protection products. According to CropLife India, such protection could encourage companies to invest in and introduce newer, safer and more efficient technologies available globally.
Regulatory Data Protection Could Encourage Innovation
CropLife India said the absence of RDP currently creates concerns around the protection of regulatory data and can discourage investment in new technologies. The organisation believes that protecting data generated through safety, health and efficacy studies conducted under Indian conditions could encourage companies to bring new products to the market more quickly. Several countries already provide regulatory data protection. China, Indonesia and Malaysia offer up to six years of protection, while the US, European Union, Canada, Thailand, Brazil and Colombia provide protection of up to 10 years. Australia, Taiwan and the Philippines offer up to eight years.
Climate Change Increases Pest Management Challenges
According to Rahul Dhanuka, Managing Director, Dhanuka Agritech Ltd, factors such as El Niño and climate change are making pest pressures more dynamic and challenging for farmers. He said a robust regulatory framework could facilitate the introduction of science- and technology-backed products to help farmers respond to changing pest conditions. He also stated that RDP could support the registration of newer technologies and enable evidence-based phasing out of existing products where appropriate.
Industry Seeks Wider Access to New Technologies
Mohan Babu Boppana, Vice Chairman of CropLife India and COO of Bayer CropScience Ltd, said a time-bound RDP framework has supported innovation and competition in other markets. He pointed to regulatory frameworks in several countries and said India could benefit from aligning its system with established global practices. According to him, expanding the range of crop protection solutions could reduce farmers’ dependence on a limited set of products while supporting the Indian industry’s participation in global markets. Boppana also highlighted the potential of newer molecules, including green molecules. According to him, these products can offer more selective action, reduce unintended impacts on flora and fauna and require lower application rates.
Crop Losses Highlight Need for Effective Protection
CropLife India noted that Indian farmers lose approximately 10–35% of crops annually due to pests and diseases, representing an estimated economic loss of around Rs 2 lakh crore each year. Against this backdrop, the industry body has called for a broader and science-based framework that can expand the range of crop protection technologies available to farmers. Giridhar Ranuva, Business Director, BASF Agricultural Solutions, India, said a time-bound RDP framework could encourage the introduction of newer technologies and help farmers address pest-related crop losses. He added that improved crop protection could support farm productivity and incomes and contribute to India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 ambitions.
RDP Could Support Export Compliance
CropLife India also highlighted the growing regulatory requirements in high-value export markets. In particular, regulations in the European Union, including stricter maximum residue limits (MRLs) for various crop protection molecules, could create additional challenges for Indian farmers and exporters. The industry body said access to newer crop protection technologies could help farmers and exporters respond to these requirements while maintaining access to international markets.
Calls for E-Commerce Regulation
CropLife India has called for stronger regulation of crop protection product sales through e-commerce platforms. The organisation has proposed licensing requirements and digital traceability measures to help prevent the sale of unauthorised crop protection products through online channels. As per the press release and according to CropLife India, a combination of science-based regulation, wider technology access, regulatory data protection and stronger digital oversight could help expand crop protection choices while supporting farmers and the wider agricultural sector.
