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BOOMING AGRICULTURE SECTOR
The booming agriculture sector is playing a vital role in supporting the market growth of infection control products in the agriculture sector. The increasing focus of various nations on reinforcing their agricultural industry is creating substantial need for infection control products including pesticides, and soil sterilant. Rapidly growing global population is creating a higher need for food and thus there is a requirement for large agricultural products that could fulfill the increasing market needs.
In order to enhance productivity and increase yield, the incorporation of smart and innovative farming techniques is increasing, and the integration of these techniques is leading to reduced wastages and higher outputs. Rising international trade with propelling imports and exports of agricultural commodities is encouraging farmers to enhance productivity along with diversifying the crops in order to fulfil the international market demands.
But the rapidly advancing agricultural practices is leading to higher risks associated with the spread of diseases and pest which is creating substantial need for the products that has the capability to control the spread of infections within the crops and prevent them from further damages. For maintaining a stable food supply by ensuring crop protection, farmers are relying on using different types of infection control products. The use of these products not only helps in preventing damage but also contributes towards obtaining optimal quality crops. The emphasis on enhancing the agricultural productivity of numerous nations is increasing.
For instance, in 2021, the total grain production in China approached 683 million metric tons. In India, foodgrain production touched 330.5 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2022-23
INCREASING NEED FOR CROP PROTECTION
Crop protection is very important for safeguarding the crops from weeds, pests and diseases. It is very essential for improving food security as the pests, weeds and diseases can substantially reduce the crop yields, in turn affecting the availability and affordability of food. According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, around 20% to 40% of the global crop production is lost due to pests each year and plant diseases costs global economy around USD 220 billion, and insects around USD 70 billion.
By protecting the crops, the farmers can secure a sufficient supply of food for fulfilling the increasing nutritional requirements of the population. Also, the infections in crops can have serious economic consequences on the farmers. Insects such as caterpillars often feed on plant tissues and damages the plants. Their feeding also weakens the plant by impacting the photosynthesis, ultimately reducing the yield. Moreover, transmission of pathogens such as bacteria and fungi from infected plants to the healthy plants causes the rapid spread of diseases within the crops. The spread of these pathogens causes problems such as wilting, rotting and discoloration.
All these problems together deteriorate the plant health significantly.
Pests poses significant threat to the crops as they can damage plant roots, further reducing the water uptake and nutrition absorption capacity of the plants. Lack of nutrients can impact the overall growth and development of the crops. Pests often damages the plants tissues by chewing on puncturing them and this damage negatively impacts the defence mechanism of the crops which further provides entry points for pathogens such as bacteria and fungi, in turn causing infections within the crops.
Along with crop damage, these pests also affect the quality of the harvested products in the form of deformities and discoloration which further reduces their market value. Consumers being so particular about the food products often rejects the products with low quality. This factor can lead to the wastage of the food products further affecting the economic returns for the farmers. Thus, the implementation of efficient infection control is very important.
The ongoing evolution of agricultural practices necessitates enhanced infection control measures to safeguard crop health and ensure food security.
U.S. Department of Agriculture