Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology - Asian Productivity ...

Business Potential for Agricultural Biotechnology Products
tilizer application, there will be a wide gap between the actual production and the demand.
Current trends indicate that there is a steady increase in demand, especially in the southern states.
Critical Factors Responsible for Effectiveness
Suitability of the species to the target crop or host specificity.
Identification of strains suited to the agro-ecosystem, particularly the soil pH and moisture
conditions.
Significant cell count of living organism present in the product, its purity, and its level of
contamination.
Conditions of the carrier material in which the culture is packed and the quality of the
packing material, which determine the shelf life.
The conditions in which the packed materials are stored, distributed, and kept by farmers
before application.
Level of Benefits
The benefits typically obtained are not as visible as those of chemical fertilizers except in
some critical conditions. Biofertilizers can add from 20 kg/ha to 200 kg/ha nitrogen depending
upon optimum conditions. Pastures and forages respond more than grain crops. Yield increases
usually range from around 10%–35%. However, in the vast areas of low-input agriculture and in
the context of imparting sustainability to crop production at reduced chemical pollution, these
products will be very useful.
BIOPESTICIDES AS NONTOXIC OPTIONS FOR PEST CONTROL
Pests and diseases cause over INR290 billion in crop losses per annum, with Helicoverpa
alone accounting for around INR35 billion. This has been caused by indiscriminate use of
chemical pesticides resulting in the development of alarming resistance in pests and a resurgence
of minor pests. Agricultural exports are rejected with increasing frequency because of high pesticide
residues. WHO estimates that there are 1 million pesticide poisoning cases globally every
year due to high pesticide residues in food chains, including those of cereals, pulses, vegetables,
fruits, milk and milk products (including mother’s milk), fish, poultry, meat products, and water.
Apart from causing significant harm to human and animal health, pesticides also damage nontarget
beneficials, soil microflora, and crops.
Biopesticides are advantageous because they are ecosafe, they have target specificity, there
is no development of resistance, the number of applications is reduced, yield and quality are
improved, they have higher acceptability, the value of produce for exports increases, and they
are suitable for rural areas There has been wide acceptance of biopesticides globally, amounting
to around a 10% share of the agrochemical market in 2000 with a growth rate of 10%–15% per
annum.
Adoption of Biopesticides and Biocontrol Agents in India
To overcome the hazards associated with pesticides, stress is being given to biological pest
management through cultural, biological, or organically accepted chemical alternatives. Biological
pest enemies such as predators (e.g., Chrysoperia), parasitoids (e.g., Trichogramma), and
biopesticides like Trichoderma, Bacillus thuringiensis, NPV, etc. are cost-effective and pollution-free
inputs for controlling pests and plant pathogens. Botanical pesticides like neem, Lantana,
etc. are also very effective in checking insect attacks. Current production of biopesticides
has increased from 210 metric tons (1996–97) to roughly 902 metric tons (2001–02). Their use
is regulated by the Insecticide Act of 1968. There is enough scope for the use of biofertilizers
and biopesticides, but unless a high-quality supply is ensured, the confidence of the end user
cannot be maintained.
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