The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry orchestrated the highly successful 'Crop Protection Conclave' on February 9th, held at Williamson Magor Hall within The Bengal Chamber premises. This gathering convened crop protection experts, agro-chemical company executives, stakeholders, and policymakers from the agriculture sector to deliberate on strategies aimed at bolstering agricultural productivity while ensuring environmental sustainability and farmer welfare. The focal theme of the conclave, 'Regenerative and Resilient Agriculture,' delved into issues encompassing crop protection, the utilization of chemical and organic fertilizers, and the advocacy of sustainable farming practices in rural India.

The day unfolded with enlightening knowledge sessions attended by esteemed guests from government, academia, research, and industry leaders, who shared their insights on the myriad challenges faced by Indian farmers. Discussions ranged from optimizing crop management for enhanced yield through sustainable methodologies to the complexities of tracing agrochemical residues to mitigate the adverse impacts of chemical fertilizers on crops and biodiversity.

The Bengal Chamber was honoured to host distinguished figures such as Shri Pradip Kumar Mazumder, Hon’ble Minister of Panchayats and Rural Development, Government of West Bengal, along with Dr. Ashok Dalwai, IAS, CEO of NRAA and Chairman of the Commission of Doubling Farmers’ Income, Dr. KC Ravi, Chairman of Crop Life India and Chief Sustainability Officer at Syngenta India Pvt Ltd, and Mr. Jayanta Chakraborty, Chairperson of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee of The Bengal Chamber.

In his address, Shri Pradip Kumar Mazumdar emphasized the imperative of enhancing agricultural production capacity in West Bengal and advocated for the adoption of farmer-centric, science-based policies to ensure efficiency, productivity, and the preservation of nutritional value in produce. He underscored the significance of market-driven crop production to mitigate over-reliance on fertilizers and prevent the squandering of financial resources.

Dr. Ashok Dalwai underscored the biological essence of agriculture and advocated for the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) techniques to minimize crop losses and reduce dependence on chemical pesticides. He also stressed the promotion of biological control methods through crop rotation, seasonal plantation, and the integration of traditional practices to foster sustainable agricultural methodologies.

The conclave highlighted the criticality of embracing sustainable farming practices to address environmental concerns and safeguard the livelihoods of farmers. Speakers deliberated on the adoption of precision agriculture techniques, water conservation measures, and agroforestry systems to optimize resource utilization and mitigate ecological footprints.

Mr. JayantaChakraborty, in his discourse, expounded on the pivotal role of fertilizers, pesticides, and biocides in driving growth within the Indian agriculture sector. He explored avenues to leverage opportunities in the sector to propel the agrochemical industry in India toward greater impact.

The conclave also witnessed the active participation of students from Adamas University’s Agriculture department, fostering an interactive exchange with experts across various panels. Additionally, over 50 farmer producer companies and agrotech firms from eastern India joined the event, facilitating invaluable networking opportunities and community-centric engagements aimed at bridging the gap between farmers and executives in the agrochemical industry.

The Agrochemical Conclave served as a pivotal platform for stakeholders to exchange insights, share best practices, and collaborate on charting a roadmap for promoting sustainable agriculture in rural India.