This document discusses the changing nature of agricultural input management from a traditional approach relying heavily on inorganic fertilizers and pesticides, to a more modern, holistic view using soft chemistry products. It notes that while the use of soft chemistry products is growing, the industry in India remains unorganized and faces challenges like a lack of standardization and regulatory framework. It recommends industry self-regulation, university trials to establish product efficacy, and working with the government and through demonstration projects to further promote the use of soft chemistry and address these challenges.

1. Changing Nature
of
Agricultural Input
Management
HARD
Vs
SOFT
CHEMISTRY

2. Traditional Thought
• Enhance plant Yield by using direct
nutrients- Inorganic Fertilisers
• Kill the harmful pests- Weeds, Insects and
Diseases.
• Symptomatic and Direct association.
• The More the Merrier. Bang the plants and
soil. No thought for efficiency
• Zero concern for environment and human
health

3. Modern View
• Maximum Care for Environment- Maximise
production with minimum impact.
• Holistic Approach towards nutrition and
plant protection- achieving genetic
potential
– Elicitor Activity
– Combating Free Radicals
– Minimising Abiotic and Biotic Stress.
• Hard Chemistry only as a last resort.

4. Reduced Risk Pesticides in California.
• In 1996, 34% of all
pesticides registered
in California were
‘soft chemistry’.
• In 2003, 52% of all
pesticides registered
were “soft
chemistry”’.
• 2012 = 74%

5. Soft Chemistry Scenario In India
• Slow but steady Realisation that Fertilisers
and Pesticides are not enough
• Organic and Minimum Intervention
Agriculture
• Activism against Hard Chemistry
• Soft Chemistry Products loosely called as
BIO Products, or more appropriately Plant
Growth Promotors (PGP)
• Unorganised and Unscruplous ( Bucket)
Players

6. Hence the future lies
in
SOFT CHEMISTRY

12. Promotion of Soft Chemistry
Products
• TARGETED FIELD WORK
– Market Segmentation
– Positioning
– Demonstration
– Customised Communication
– Wide Publicity of results
• Convince the stakeholders-
– Channel Partners
– Progressive Farmers
– Scientists and Extension Workers
– Agricultutal Department. Officials

13. Challenges
• Market dominated by unscrupulous players-
Bio is the DIRTY word.
• Lack of Standardization of Most of the
products, specially the Marine Flora based.
• Difficult to Differentiate the product.
• No Regulatory or Registration framework of
these products, leading to harassment of
honest Players.

14. Approach towards Problem Solving
• Industry to self regulate itself and make it
mandatory to mentioned the source, contents,
and processing done on the product.
• Industry may represent to the government to
protest against the continous harrasment.
• University Trials of these products to establish
efficacy.
• Work on cellular level to establish efficacy.
• Scientific recording of efficacy of the product.

15. Thank You
Even Sky is not the limit for the relentless…