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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Explained: Biostimulants that aid plant growth, now under the Centre's scrutiny
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last week wrote to Chief Ministers of all states to immediately stop the 'forced tagging' of nano-fertilisers or biostimulants along with conventional fertilisers. Chouhan highlighted complaints that retailers are not selling subsidised fertilisers like urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) to farmers unless they purchase biostimulants. He also said that many farmers had recently raised complaints about the inefficacy of biostimulants. 'It is necessary to review biostimulants thoroughly to see how much benefit the farmers are getting from it; if not, then permission to sell it cannot be given,' he said. The substances stimulate physiological processes in plants and help enhance the yield from a harvest. Plant-derived waste materials and seaweed extracts are at times used in their production. Officially, the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, which regulates the manufacturing and sale of biostimulants, defines it as 'a substance or microorganism or a combination of both whose primary function when applied to plants, seeds or rhizosphere is to stimulate physiological processes in plants and to enhance its nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and tolerance to stress… but does not include pesticides or plant growth regulators which are regulated under the Insecticide Act, 1968.' Market research firm Fortune Business Insights noted, 'The India biostimulants market size was valued at USD 355.53 million in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 410.78 million in 2025 to USD 1,135.96 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 15.64% during the forecast period.' Chouhan said that around 30,000 biostimulant products had been sold unchecked for several years, and even in the last four years, around 8,000 products remained in circulation. 'After I enforced stricter checks, the number has now come down to approximately 650,' he said in a statement on July 15. As biostimulants did not fall under the existing fertiliser or pesticide categories, they were sold in the open market without government approval for a long time. In India, fertilisers and pesticides are governed by the 1985 Fertiliser Control Order and the Insecticides Act of 1968, respectively. The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare issues the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO) under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and makes changes to it from time to time. However, in 2011, the Punjab and Haryana High Court made an observation. Any manufacturer producing a bioproduct claiming to be a substitute for insecticides or fertiliser, but not covered under the rules, was to apply to the respective Director General of Agriculture, in the case of Haryana and Punjab. This paved the way for states to take samples of these products and check them before allowing their sale to farmers. As the sale of biostimulants increased over the years, it caught the Centre's attention. In 2017, NITI Aayog, the government's premier think tank, and the Agriculture Ministry started working on a framework for biostimulants. Finally, in February 2021, the ministry amended the 1985 FCO and included biostimulants, paving the way for their regulated manufacturing, sale and import. The inclusion of biostimulants empowered the Central government to fix specifications. The FCO classified biostimulants specified in Schedule VI of the FCO in eight categories, including botanical extracts (as well as seaweed extracts), bio-chemicals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Every manufacturer or importer of a biostimulant shall make an application to the Controller of Fertilisers along with the requisite product information. The product's chemistry, source (natural extracts of plant/microbe/animal/synthetic), shelf-life, reports of bio-efficacy trials, and toxicity must be submitted, along with other data. The five basic acute toxicity tests are: (i) Acute oral (Rat) (ii) Acute dermal (Rat) (iii) Acute Inhalation (Rat) (iv) Primary skin Irritation (Rabbit) (v) Eye irritation (Rabbit) The four eco-toxicity tests are: (i) Toxicity to birds (ii) Toxicity to Fish (Freshwater) (iii) Toxicity to honeybees (iv) Toxicity to earthworm The FCO clearly states that no biostimulant shall contain any pesticide beyond the permissible limit of 0.01ppm. Further, agronomic bio-efficiency trials shall be conducted under the National Agricultural Research System, including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and state agricultural universities. 'Bio-efficacy trials shall be conducted at minimum three different doses for one season at three agro-ecological locations,' it states. Additionally, on April 9, 2021, the agriculture ministry constituted the Central Biostimulant Committee for five years, with the Agriculture Commissioner as its Chairperson and seven other members. Under the FCO, it shall advise the Centre on: (i) inclusion of a new biostimulant; (ii) specifications of various biostimulants; (iii) methods of drawing of samples and its analysis; (iv) minimum requirements of laboratory; (v) method of testing of biostimulants; (vi) any other matter referred to it by the central government. According to the FCO order, amended in 2021, manufacturers could make and sell biostimulants for two years if they made an application for provisional registration. Sources say that the Agriculture Ministry kept extending the two-year deadline, which allowed most of the manufacturers as of 2021 to continue making and selling biostimulants based on provisional registration. Whereas, under the regular registration, companies have to submit testing protocols to the government. On March 17, in the latest extension of the provisional certificate facility, the ministry allowed biostimulants' sale for three months until June 16. It applied to all companies manufacturing or importing a biostimulant as of March 17, for which no standards were specified. With the March 17 notification having expired, the companies having provisional certificates and stocks of biostimulants cannot sell their products in the market now, said a source. In addition to this, the Agriculture Ministry notified 'Specifications of Biostimulants' on May 26 for several crops, including tomato, chilli, cucumber, paddy, brinjal, cotton, potato, green gram, grape, hot pepper, soybean, maize, and onion. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Indian Express
New scheme to study crops using AI: What is CROPIC
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare plans to launch CROPIC, a study to gather crop information using field photographs and AI-based models. Why is this study significant and how will it be used? CROPIC stands for Collection of Real Time Observations & Photo of Crops. According to the plan, crops will be photographed four-five times during their cycle, and the pictures will be analysed to assess their health and potential mid-season losses. The study will be carried out for two seasons initially, kharif 2025 and rabi 2025-26. How will CROPIC work on the ground? The study envisages collection of field photographs during the crop season using a mobile application. The CROPIC mobile app has been developed by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. The photographs from the field will be crowd-sourced directly from farmers. Then, they will be analysed for information including crop type, crop stage, crop damage and its extent. The CROPIC model will use an AI-based cloud platform for photo analysis and information extraction, and a web-based dashboard for visualisation. Also, when compensation or insurance is to be paid to farmers, officials will collect the photographs using the CROPIC Mobile App. What is the purpose of the study? The agriculture ministry plans to conduct this study for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). It will assist in creating a rich directory of crop signatures, and will also lead to automation of loss assessment and compensation to eligible farmers under PMFBY. 'CROPIC is an initiative under PMFBY with a dual purpose of monitoring crop health and stress and automation of crop loss assessment and payment of claims to affected farmers using computer vision technology and photo-analytic models. This initiative is part of digital innovations in agriculture for fostering financial resilience,' said a source. What is the timeline of the project? The Agriculture Ministry invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) on June 5 to select agencies to conduct the study. CROPIC will be rolled out initially in at least 50 districts per season. These districts will be well distributed in different agro-climatic zones covering the three major notified crops (notified crops are those covered under insurance schemes like PMFBY) in each district for each season, initially. The government will identify the three crops and the 50 districts. However, all crops notified under PMFBY will eventually be covered under CROPIC. 'CROPIC is as of now under pilot studies for research and development of suitable photo-analytic models. The pilot studies shall continue for the two upcoming seasons, and are expected to be rolled-out nationwide from 2026 for all major crops,' said the source. How much money will be spent on the project? According to agriculture ministry officials, the Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT) under PMFBY will be used for funding CROPIC. The FIAT has a total outlay of Rs 825 crore for different technology innovations under crop insurance schemes. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
The Hindu
07-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
TNAU has disbursed ₹8.98 crore as grants to 85 agri startups since 2019
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, has disbursed grants to the extent of 8.98 crore to 85 agri startups since 2019, under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana - Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sectors Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR), a flagship scheme of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare to strengthen infrastructure in Agriculture and Allied sectors. The allied sectors constitute Crop Husbandry (including Horticulture), Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Dairy Development, Agricultural Research and Education, Forestry and Wildlife, Plantation and Agricultural Marketing, Food Storage and Warehousing, Soil and Water Conservation, Agricultural Financial Institutions, other Agricultural Programmes and Cooperation. TNAU is one among 24 R-ABIs (RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubators) identified by the Central Government for fostering Agripreneurship and Agri-Business ecosystem across the country, through facilitating financial aid to potential agri startups and nurturing a system of business incubation. The TNAU has been conducting two programmes under this scheme: Agripreneurship Orientation Programme (AOP) for a grant up to ₹5 lakh, and Startup Agribusiness Incubation Programme (SAIP) ) for a grant of up to ₹25 lakh. Earlier this week, R. Thamizh Vendan, Registrar and Acting Vice-Chancellor, TNAU, disbursed ₹35 lakh for 10 SAIP Cohort III Grantees as third instalment, ₹17.80 lakh for 11 AOP Cohort IV Grantees as second instalment and ₹35.40 lakh for 13 AOP Cohort V Grantees as first instalment. In total, ₹88.20 lakh were given to 34 grantees of SAIP cohort III and AOP cohort IV and V. The grant, Prof. Vendhan said, has been effective in retaining the youth in agriculture and to support agri-based startups to innovate and implement new technologies for sustainable and profitable agribusiness. The grantees have planned to utilise the grant for development of products and upscaling their startups in agri and allied ventures, E. Somasundaram, Director, Agri-Business Development, TNAU, said. RKVY-RAFTAAR, sources added, is being implemented as a Centrally-sponsored scheme in the ratio of 60:40 (Government of India and State Share respectively) except in case of north-eastern and hilly States where the sharing pattern is 90:10. For union territories, the grant is 100% as Central share.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Development of Pollachi Coconut Cluster by National Horticulture Board at a cost of ₹250 crore on anvil
The Horticulture Department has unveiled a ₹250-crore Central government project for development of Pollachi Coconut Cluster, entailing ₹100-crore subsidy, under three verticals: pre-production and production; post-harvest management and value addition; and logistics, marketing and branding. The project is to be implemented under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP) of National Horticulture Board, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. Entities eligible for becoming Implementing Agency (ies) include Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs/ FPCs) and their federations, cooperatives/societies, partnership firms, proprietorship firms, companies, State Agriculture and Marketing Boards and Federations and other Public Sector entities of Central/State Governments. The Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency (TANHODA), as the Cluster Development Agency (CDA) has invited proposals for implementation of Cluster Development Programme for Pollachi Coconut Cluster through online portal ( before June 25, 2025. The information was shared by the Deputy Director of Horticulture P. Siddharthan with a gathering of farmers at the start of the agriculture grievances redress meeting chaired by the District Collector Pawankumar G. Giriyappanavar on Friday. Further information on the programme and on the procedure for submitting the 'Call for Proposals' could be sourced from the websites: and Mr. Siddharthan said guidance could be obtained from Assistant Directors of Horticulture at Anamalai (Ph.9865905505), Pollachi North (9488226159) and Pollachi South (9443059186) The Union Ministry has identified 55 horticulture clusters of which Pollachi is one among the 12 clusters selected for pilot launch. The Pollachi Coconut Cluster falls under the mega category of cluster, based on the area parameter - more than 15,000 hectares - for financial assistance up to ₹100 crore. Earlier in the day, a mobile soil testing station sanctioned for Coimbatore under National Agriculture Development Programme was flagged off by the District Collector. The mobile soil testing laboratory costing ₹ 75 lakh will be utilised to conduct 12 camps per month - three per week - at villages, Joint Director of Agriculture Krishnaveni said. Through the camps, farmers will be provided with guidance to utilise fertilizers suiting the soil conditions for increasing crop yield and return on investment. Soil health cards will be provided to the farmers on the very day of testing. A fee of ₹ 30 will be charged for each sample analysis. Villages brought under Kalaignarin All Village Integrated Agriculture Development Programme (KAVIADP) will be accorded priority.
