Crop Care Federation of India: Exclusion of Agrochemicals in PLI Scheme Delayed New Investments
Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) urged Arun Baroka, India’s Secretary of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, for expediting the (Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in agrochemicals and for notifying operational guidelines for its implementation, according to Krishak Jagat.
A representation submitted by CCFI in May 2022 highlighted the importance of agrochemicals and how it is an essential farm input for Indian farmers. A similar representation was submitted by the CCFI in December 2020 as well.
“CCFI is of the view that fresh investment plans are getting delayed to avail the benefit under this scheme. For the implementation of the PLI scheme, a corpus for Rs. 500 crores should be provided by the government during the next 2-3 years. The plan is to make India a manufacturing hub to follow the policy of ‘Make in India,’” mentioned Harish Mehta, Senior Advisor, CCFI.
The cost of agrochemicals for farmers is about 4 percent of the total value of the produce, whereas it reduces both pre and post-harvest crop losses to the tune of 22 percent. The dependence on the Chinese for imports of vital products is a high risk in certain important crop-pest segments, endangering the food security of India.
“We can certainly compete with China and gain leadership in agrochemicals once the industry establishes critical manufacturing capacities through inclusion in the PLI scheme”, mentioned Mehta.
The core group of CCFI members has put together a list of intermediates, technical, and formulations for indigenous manufacturing by enhancing local capacities through new investment.
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