Kisan-Vigyan Foundation Urges Government to Prioritize Weed Management for India’s 2047 Food Security Vision
20 June 2025, New Delhi: As India prepares to celebrate 100 years of independence in 2047, a looming challenge threatens the foundation of its food systems—unchecked weed infestations in croplands. The Kisan-Vigyan Foundation, in its latest white paper titled “India’s National Weed Management Strategy – Ensuring Food Security by 2047”, appeals to the Government of India to recognize and act on the economic and agronomic impact of weeds across the country.
With yield losses reaching up to 26% during the kharif season and 25% during the rabi season, and annual economic damage estimated at ₹92,000 crore, the foundation stresses that weed management is not a technical or agronomic issue alone—it is a national food security concern. The government’s ongoing efforts in strengthening agricultural infrastructure, supporting input subsidies, and promoting climate-resilient farming must now expand to include comprehensive weed control mechanisms.
Manual weeding remains the most common method among Indian farmers, despite its rising cost and decreasing feasibility. It requires nearly 20 labor days and costs around ₹7,500 per hectare. In contrast, herbicides cost nearly half and can be applied quickly and effectively. Yet, due to a lack of access, awareness, and training, herbicide adoption remains low. This gap calls for immediate government-led intervention through targeted extension programs, public-private partnerships, and regulatory support.
The white paper proposes that weed control strategies be incorporated into flagship government schemes such as PM-KISAN, the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras. The Foundation also recommends that the government promote the development of herbicide-tolerant crops and support indigenous research into bio-herbicides and weed-resistant crop varieties.
India’s path to food self-reliance by 2047 will depend on how comprehensively it addresses weed management today. The government has the institutional power and reach to catalyze a nationwide weed control movement, turning a long-ignored problem into a strategic opportunity for agricultural resilience and rural prosperity.
Download the full white paper on India’s National Weed Management Strategy here to explore the detailed data, scientific insights, and policy recommendations.
About Kisan-Vigyan Foundation
Kisan-Vigyan Foundation (KAKV) is a think-tank created to focus on Food & Feed Security of India and to support policies for the economic welfare of the farmers. The foundation has strong governing council members from core sectors of agriculture to work on fact-based research findings and to raise concerns where necessary.
Also Read: India’s Agricultural Sector on Track to Triple: McKinsey Highlights $3.1 Trillion Potential by 2047
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