Pesticides industry: an analysis of imports, production and consumption

Abstract

The statistical analysis of import of pesticides in terms of quantity revealed a slow growth rate. However, the growth rates of their value were high due to increased per unit cost of the imported quantity. The imported insecticides had higher growth rates than total pesticides imported, suggesting the need of disaggregated studies. In contrast to imports, the rate of increase in production of pesticides in the country has been much higher, and its value has been growing even faster. When the analysis of growth rates is extended to quality, the picture which emerges needs a close scrutiny. The quality of insecticides imported (as judged from the area protectable) indicated increased rate of imports of low potency chemicals. However, in respect of insecticides produced in the country the rate of growth of area protectable was higher than the rate of growth in tonnage terms.