CropLife India Charts Roadmap to $1 Trillion Agri Economy at National Conference 2025
27 September 2025, New Delhi: CropLife India, the association of domestic and multinational R&D-based crop science companies, hosted its National Conference 2025 alongside its 45th Annual General Meeting in New Delhi. The gathering brought together Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, senior government officials and industry leaders to deliberate on the future of Indian agriculture and the role of crop protection in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Minister Calls Farmers the “Soul of the Nation”
In his inaugural address, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described farmers as “the soul of our nation,” adding that serving them was “a gift from God.” He noted India’s journey from dependence on imports to self-reliance and emerging export strength.
“With our population expected to reach 170 crore by 2050, ensuring food and nutritional security is our foremost duty,” Chouhan said. “Nearly half of our people depend on farming, most with less than two acres of land, and our policies must reflect this reality.”
He stressed the need to improve productivity per hectare and integrate new technologies into farming. “Agriculture is not just an industry—it is a national responsibility. Together, government, scientists and industry must ensure prosperity for farmers, sustainability for our land, and nourishment for humanity.”
Balancing Innovation with Responsibility
Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairperson of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), pointed out that the Green Revolution gave India food security as well as confidence. “From 65 million tons of food grains, we now produce nearly 350 million tons, and horticulture has gone even further,” he said. According to him, agrochemicals played a critical role in that growth, but the sector must now “move beyond borrowed technologies” and focus on homegrown innovations and stronger intellectual property.
He added, “The task ahead is to balance growth with sustainability—through responsible use, effective regulation, and science-led innovation.”
Industry’s Role in Building a $1 Trillion Agri Economy
CropLife India Chairman Ankur Aggarwal highlighted India’s global standing as the fourth-largest producer and the second-largest exporter of agrochemicals, with exports worth nearly ₹40,000 crore. He said members of CropLife India account for over 70 percent of the industry’s business, contributing 95 percent of global crop protection chemistries.
“India loses crops worth ₹2 lakh crore every year to pests and diseases, yet our farmers use only 400 grams of pesticides per hectare compared to a global average of 8,000 grams,” Aggarwal noted. “This shows that Indian farmers are efficient, not excessive.”
He underlined the sector’s commitment to responsible innovation, natural farming support, and integrated pest management. “With government partnership and science-driven solutions, we can help farmers cut losses, raise incomes, and move India closer to the $1 trillion agricultural economy goal,” he said.
The conference featured sessions on regulatory challenges, state-level compliance issues, and a high-level debate on the role of pesticides in sustainable agriculture.
Also Read: Tropical Agro Unveils AI – Enabled Tech Tools To Tackle India’s 7 Million Tonnes Fruit Loss Problem
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