A farmer sprays pesticides on a watermelon field in Nagaon. File. | Photo credit: ANI
CropLife India, an umbrella organization of various pesticide manufacturers, has warned of about a 20-25% increase in pesticides and crop protection chemicals as a result of the war in West Asia. They said the price hike is due to escalating fuel prices and ongoing supply chain disruptions, which could also lead to the sale of fake pesticides.
CropLife India Chairman Ankur Aggarwal said here on Friday (March 20, 2026) that disruption of supply chains and key transport routes due to the conflict is likely to affect input costs by 20-25% for the crop protection industry, leading to a corresponding increase in costs for farmers. “The disruption may lead to shortage of certain crop protection products during the critical farming season, impacting the yield and quality of produce,” added Mr. Aggarwal. The kharif season begins in most parts of the country later this month.
He added that the industry is expected to see lower capacity utilization across engineering and formulation plants during this period, and this may also affect industry revenue and employment, particularly among SMEs. “At this juncture, the industry is asking for support and incentives on the energy front to increase local production and capacity,” he said, adding that the industry is working closely with the government.
“Gaps in supply and volatility could fuel the circulation of illegal, counterfeit or substandard products, so it is important that we remain vigilant and activate all monitoring mechanisms,” he warned.
Published – 21 March 2026 02:40 IST
