PPP Model Essential for Agricultural Development in Madhya Pradesh: Dr. R.G. Agarwal

Need for Action Against Fake Inputs Market

08 April 2025, Bhopal: Dr. R.G. Agarwal, Chairman Emeritus, Dhanuka Agritech Limited and a prominent figure in the agricultural sector, recently emphasized the importance of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for the development of agriculture in Madhya Pradesh. During his visit to Bhopal, he told Krishak Jagat, “There is a need for collaborative efforts to implement farmer-friendly schemes effectively at the grassroots level, ensuring small farmers receive timely access to advanced agricultural technologies and essential information”.

Dr. Agarwal stressed that the expansion of the PPP model would help fast-track agricultural schemes and technologies across the state and the country, particularly boosting the productivity of crucial crops like soybean. He also called on the government to take action against the rampant sale of fake and substandard agricultural inputs and pesticides, which have been a growing concern for farmers, potentially causing significant harm to their crops and livelihoods.

Addressing the broader challenges facing Indian agriculture, Dr. Agarwal noted that the needs of the country’s 140 million farmers and over 650,000 villages cannot be met by the government or any single entity alone. Collaboration across sectors is essential to ensure the success of agricultural development initiatives. He recommended that the Madhya Pradesh Agricultural Department initiate PPP-based programs to deliver critical agricultural knowledge and technology to small-scale farmers.

Reflecting on previous efforts, Dr. Agarwal recalled a 2000 initiative in Hoshangabad district, where a PPP-driven agricultural extension campaign led to a 20-30% increase in soybean production. Additionally, in 2007, the introduction of seed treatment with Vitawax provided significant benefits to farmers, contributing to improved crop yields. These initiatives ultimately earned Hoshangabad the “Best Agriculture District” award from the National Productivity Council.

Dr. Agarwal identified three key challenges currently facing farmers: limited access to modern farming technologies, the lack of fair pricing for agricultural produce, and the absence of high-quality, genuine agricultural products. He urged the government to launch awareness and training programs to address these issues. In his view, farmers should only purchase agricultural inputs with valid bills and verify the authenticity of products by using QR codes on the packaging. He also suggested reducing the GST on pesticides from 18% to 5%, which would benefit small farmers and make inputs more affordable.

He further highlighted that farmers in other countries receive far higher subsidies than those in India, and it is important for Indian farmers to receive similar support to remain competitive.

Dr. Agarwal also spoke about the need to bring advanced agricultural technologies to India, particularly those from countries like Japan, to help improve agricultural production and productivity, and to strengthen the overall agricultural economy in India. He called for greater collaboration among stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of agricultural development programs.

The discussion was attended by agricultural experts, and was hosted by Dhanuka Agritech Limited represented by Mr. Chetan Sarawagi, President and Mr. Sanjay Singh, DGM.

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