National Pesticides Association members engage Minister Tummala on industry reforms
Association holds discussions on strengthening regulatory frameworks and tackling counterfeit pesticides
Hyderabad: In a significant move to address pressing challenges in the agri input industry, a high-level delegation from the National level Pesticides Associations met with Tummala Nageswara Rao, Telangana Agriculture Minister and held discussion with special focus on regulatory improvements, counterfeit pesticide prevention, and farmer welfare initiatives.
Led by Dr. R.G. Agarwal (Dhanuka Agritech Ltd.), Ramesh Kailasam (Corteva), B. Srinivas (Bayer), Dugesh Chandra (CropLife India), and Kalyan Goswami (ACFI), the delegation engaged in critical discussions on strengthening regulatory frameworks, tackling counterfeit pesticides, and fostering industry-government collaboration to enhance farmer welfare and agricultural productivity.
The delegation commended Telangana's progressive initiatives, including the online endorsement system for principal certificates and the coding system for agri-input sampling, which have improved transparency and ensured quality products for farmers.
To combat counterfeit products, they proposed awareness campaigns like video advisories and caller tunes in regional languages, a move the Minister welcomed as key to empowering farmers. The delegation flagged inconsistencies in pesticide sampling, revealing that 50 per cent of pesticide samples came from just eight companies, while 48 firms had only one sample tested in five years.
The Minister acknowledged this imbalance and directed officials to adopt a scientific and proportionate approach to sampling. They also urged the government to differentiate misbranding from counterfeiting and align definitions with the Insecticides Act-1968. The industry proposed joint training programs for regulatory compliance, which received ministerial support.
To protect farmers, they suggested multi-lingual video advisories and caller tunes and on-ground awareness drives on counterfeit pesticide risks, an idea welcomed by the Minister. Additionally, the Minister expressed interest in replicating Maharashtra’s district-based extension model for farmer outreach.
With these landmark discussions, the National Level Pesticides Associations (ACFI and CLI) and its member companies reaffirmed their commitment to farmer welfare, quality assurance, and regulatory integrity, setting the stage for a stronger and more transparent agricultural sector in India.