BioAgri 2023: Charting Growth in Biological Agriculture & India’s Organic Evolution
BioAgri 2023, the largest Bio Agri Solutions Conference & Expo, concluded yesterday at HICC Novotel in the city.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Dr T. Janakiram, Vice Chancellor, Dr YSR Horticultural University, and Dr Praveen Rao, Former Vice Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU). SK Malhotra, Project Director of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture (DKMA-ICAR), delivered the BioAgri Conference Address.
The theme for Bio Agri 2023 is “BioAg by 2030 – Miles To Go– Billions to Reach”. The BIPA International Journal of Biological Agriculture was launched during the conference, which also included an exhibition.
A growing realization persists that biologicals are a sustainable choice, offering benefits such as increased biodiversity, enhanced soil health, and a reduction in greenhouse gases and carbon footprint.
The event, organized by the BioAgri Input Producers Association “BIPA,” a not-for-profit body, featured a governing body of seven eminent personalities from the agriculture field.
Topics covered during the conference included Bio-abling the future –India opportunity; Global business opportunities in Biologicals, bio-nutrition; Ag-biologicals: opportunities beyond agriculture, emerging technologies and business opportunities, investment opportunities in India, and many others.
Bio-Ag Solutions, considered a ‘Sunrise Industry,’ is poised to grow due to consumer preferences for organic and chemical-free food, the need to counter soil and water depletion from climate change and chemical usage, among other advantages.
The Government’s emphasis on “Natural Farming” has boosted the usage of various BioAg inputs, generating significant interest among the national farming community.
Corporations are recognizing the need for sustainable agriculture, leading them to expand into the biological sector to mitigate the impact of chemical fertilizers on soil conditions.
Agriculture, as a whole, is transitioning towards biological agriculture due to climate resilience and the adverse effects of chemical-based farming practices.
India’s potential as a sourcing hub for biologicals is substantial. The organic food segment in India is expected to grow, reaching INR 75,000 crores (US$ 10.73 billion) by 2025.
According to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, 2.78 million hectares of farmland were under organic cultivation as of March 2020, accounting for 2% of the net sown area in the country.
Moving forward, adopting food safety and quality assurance mechanisms will boost the usage of BioAg inputs in agriculture, alongside digitization and traceability applications.
The biostimulants market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.06% during the forecast period, reaching US$145.947 million by 2027, driven by increased demand for organic food in India.
India, ranking first in Asia and fifth globally, has 23 lakh hectares under organic farming. In 2021 alone, India added about 3.6 lakh hectares of organic land.
With around 15,000 certified organic farms, agriculture plays a vital role in India’s economy, engaging 58% of the nation’s total workforce and contributing 18.8% to the country’s Gross Value Added (GVA). In FY20, this amounted to INR 19.48 lakh crore (US$ 276.37 billion).
India spans a total geographical region of 328.7 million hectares, with 139.4 million hectares reported as net sown area and a gross cropped area of 200.2 million hectares with a cropping intensity of 143.6%. The net area sown accounts for 42.4% of the total geographical area, with a net irrigated area of 68.6 million hectares.
