Crop Protection Chemicals Market
The crop protection chemicals sector in India is witnessing changes in 2025. The growing scarcity of farm labour is driving demand for herbicides. These chemicals help control weeds that compete with crops for nutrients and water. The market is dominated by multinational companies, but Indian firms are making strategic moves to expand their presence.
Crop protection chemicals
Crop protection chemicals, commonly called pesticides, protect crops from pests, diseases and weeds. They include insecticides for insect pests, fungicides for fungal diseases, and herbicides for weed control. Weeds reduce crop yields by competing for resources and harbouring pests. Effective weed control improves fertiliser and irrigation efficiency.
Market Size and Segment Growth
India’s organised crop protection market is valued at about Rs 24,500 crore. Insecticides form the largest segment at Rs 10,700 crore, followed by herbicides at Rs 8,200 crore and fungicides at Rs 5,600 crore. Herbicides are the fastest growing segment, expanding over 10% annually, driven by labour shortages and increased weed control needs.
Dominance of Multinational Corporations
The market is largely controlled by global firms such as Bayer AG (15% share), Syngenta (12%), ADAMA (10%), Corteva Agriscience (7%) and Sumitomo Chemical (6%). Syngenta and ADAMA are owned by China’s Sinochem Holdings Corporation. Indian companies like Dhanuka Agritech and Crystal Crop Protection Ltd (CCPL) hold smaller shares but are growing through acquisitions and innovation.
Herbicide Market Dynamics
Herbicides are increasingly replacing manual weeding due to rising labour costs and scarcity. Manual weeding is time-consuming and physically demanding. Power weeders reduce time but are less effective for deep-rooted or dense weeds. Herbicides offer a cost-effective and labour-saving alternative, with sales rising sharply, especially in the pre-emergent and early post-emergent categories.
Innovations and Indian Industry Efforts
Indian firms are acquiring rights to established herbicides and developing new formulations. CCPL acquired Ethoxysulfuron and Gramoxone brands for South Asia markets. It also developed ‘Sikosa’, a patented herbicide for paddy that controls various weeds at a lower cost than manual weeding. Such innovations aim to reduce dependence on multinational corporations.
Changing Farmer Practices
Farmers traditionally apply insecticides and fungicides based on pest thresholds. Herbicide use is shifting from reactive post-emergence spraying to preventive pre-emergence and early post-emergence applications. This proactive approach improves weed control efficiency and crop health, especially amid labour shortages and rising wages.
Labour Shortage Impact
The shortage of agricultural labourers willing to perform manual weeding is a key driver for herbicide demand. Rising daily wages and unavailability of workers during critical periods make chemical weed control a practical necessity. Herbicides now serve as essential labour-saving tools akin to tractors and mechanised equipment.
| Related | |
|---|---|
PMD Seshu kumar
August 9, 2025 at 12:13 pmGood article