Govt allows the sale of agro-chemicals through online platforms
With the Centre approving sales of pesticides through an e-commerce business, the country’s online trade in agro-chemicals is set to take off. The latest action by the Centre is expected to assist agrochemical manufacturers in establishing their online platforms, as well as garnering the attention of e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Flipkart, among others, according to analysts.
According to a notification issued on November 24 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, ‘a licensee may undertake the sale of any insecticide through e-commerce entity for supply of insecticides to the doorstep of the farmers during the currency of licence, and the licensee shall comply with the provisions of the Act and the rules made there under for the time being in force.’
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‘With this announcement, e-commerce in agrochemicals will be boosted, benefiting both the sector and farmers.’ ‘This will be the new face of industry interface since it would significantly minimise the distance between the manufacturer and the farmers,’ said Kalyan Goswami, Director-General of the Agro Chem Federation of India.
Risk reduction
‘Farmers can have access to a variety of options that include all product specifications, allowing them to make an informed decision.’ Misbranded and counterfeit product sales would be reduced as well. Quality manufacturers that are willing to reduce their operating costs in the form of margins will have a long road ahead of them, as farmers prefer to buy straight from the companies, according to Goswami.
Currently, agrochemical internet sales in the country are negligible. According to Goswami, the 86,000-crore agro-chemical industry, which includes exports, is rising at a rate of 11-14 percent every year.
Hemendra Mathur, an agtech investor, says that the change will lead to more investments in the supply chain and could bring in online retailers like Amazon and Flipkart. It could also help e-commerce businesses meet demand quickly and lead to the introduction of new types of products. According to Mathur, the market potential is immense because approximately one-third of the 15 crore farmers can place orders online.
a fresh start
‘The industry has been requesting official clearance to conduct e-commerce for some time now.’ The agrochemicals sector will see a new beginning now that e-commerce is officially permitted. It will be a great step to directly reach consumers. ‘There may be new portals in this field, including from manufacturers and e-commerce companies like Amazon and Flipkart,’ said Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India) Ltd.
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‘This is a significant boost for the agritech sector and DigitalBharat projects.’ This notification update acknowledges that technology is becoming increasingly crucial and necessary for Indian farmers in order to enhance productivity and double their income. This is a crucial and progressive step toward HelpingFarmersWin,’ said Shardul Sheth, CEO and Co-Founder of AgroStar.
‘It’s a tremendous step in the right direction.’ It now supports businesses like us,’ said Sateesh Nukala of BigHaat.
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