The Indian biopesticide market will grow at a CAGR of 9.38%

The Fortune Business Insights report expects the Indian biopesticide market to grow to $69.62 million in 2022 and reach $130.37 million by 2029. During this period, its compound annual growth rate will reach 9.38 percent, the report noted. A separate report from Global News Wire adds that much of this growth will be driven by rising consumer demand for organic and biological products and increasing focus on crop protection strategies.

On the other hand, the global biopesticide market is growing at a rate of 14.6%, and the inability of chemical pesticides to stop soil erosion and control soil-borne pathogens and other diseases makes biopesticides an ideal solution for farmers worldwide. Dr. Sanjay Patidar, founder of Growtech Agri Science and Research Pvt Ltd. 

Narsimha Rao Kothapalli, vice president and head of exports at Coramandal International, said, Increased exports of fruits and vegetables, growing awareness among farmers of the biological efficacy of biopesticides, implementation of integrated pest management, entry of multinational companies into the biopesticide sector, and increase in organic acreage are also driving this growth.

Microbial driven growth 

Renewed interest in microbial biopesticides is encouraging companies to develop new and innovative products. The industry is set to dominate the Indian biopesticide industry in 2021 with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8%, with a significant rise in popularity due to improved crop quality and protection from external attacks by bacteria, fungi and other contaminants. 

Coramandal International has also developed a variety of microbial biopesticides to provide farmers with complete value for money products. One of its notable products includes Neemazal 1% (Aza 1% EC), which is made from the highest purity Aza technology. The product has the lowest aflatoxin content in the original medicine. It is a broad-spectrum insecticide used to control more than 60 pests of 100 crop species.

Market segmentation 

The Indian biopesticide market is segmented into biocides, biocides and biocides segments. Kothapalli said that among them, the biocide sector is growing at a faster rate due to the country's tropical climate. He added that the use of nematocides is also increasing, especially in the greenhouse and flower industries.

Application field 

In India, 90 percent of biopesticides are used for foliar spraying, Kothapalli affirms. There are 970 products registered with the Central Insecticide Board (CIBRC) in India. Of the biopesticides produced in India, bacteria account for about 29%, fungi account for about 66%, viruses account for about 4%, and other (plant, pheromone) accounts for about 1%. 

80% of India's biopesticides are used in the fruit and vegetable sector, followed by oilseed and cereals. Kothapalli said Coramandal is also focusing on the same segment.

Fungal products account for the highest proportion of biopesticides in India. Companies use various trichoderma strains as fungal biopesticides. One of the standouts is Growtech Agriscience and Research, which uses a variety of products based on the trichoderma genus, such as Trichoderma, Trichoderma harrisi, Bacillus subtilis and more. Our products are mainly used for soil and foliar spraying. However, they can also be used in drip irrigation and granules, "Patidar said. 

There are currently 355 trichodermo-based biocides on the market. However, only two of these strains were associated with recorded biocontrol activity.

The use of bacterial biopesticides is also growing at a rate of 10% per year, with Bacillus thuringiensis accounting for about 15% of all bacterial biopesticides. On the other hand, the use of viral biopesticides based on nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPV) is relatively low. These biological pesticides are mainly used for biological control of cotton bollworm in India.

Consumption pattern 

According to ResearchGate's report, Maharashtra has the highest amount of biopesticides used, while Goa has the lowest amount. The overall consumption of biopesticides increased sharply in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, while the consumption of biopesticides decreased sharply in Orissa. In 2022, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Karnataka consumed the most biopesticides at 5,549, 4,416 and 3,478 tonnes respectively, while Himachal Pradesh and Goa used the least at 36 and 38 tonnes respectively.

Foreground 

Coramandal expects the Indian biopesticide market to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13% over the next five years." We are stepping up research and development to secure the product line for the next 10 years. Our goal is to launch one or two unique biopesticides per year." "Kothapalli said. 

Growtech Agriscience, meanwhile, plans to raise awareness among farmers through workshops, billboards and more. Patidar said the industry's future in India looks quite bright.