India is an agrarian nation; its economy basically depends on agricultural technology and related products. Protecting crops from pesticides is an indispensable part of the agricultural process.
If we look at the recent examples, the locust invasion was the highest in 2020 as compared to the last 25 years.
The attack caused extensive damage to crops, mostly in Rajasthan and also in Gujarat. Hence, pesticide companies in India and industries have huge potential.
Most commonly, pesticides are used in agriculture (to control damage-causing pests) and in public health (to kill vectors of disease). Pesticides are classified on the type of organisms they kill or control.
Types of pesticides:
- Insecticide- Insecticide is a type of pesticide that is made especially to kill those insects that damage the crop.
- Herbicide- A herbicide is a chemical that can inhibit or control the growth of weeds or invasive plants that grow along with the main crop.
- Fungicide- A fungicide is a chemical compound that kills moulds and fungus growing on the crop.
- Bactericide- Bactericide is a chemical that is specialized in controlling bacteria.
- Bio-pesticide- These pesticides are derived from natural things like plants, animals, bacteria, and even minerals. Pesticide companies in India prefer bio-pesticide production because they are non-toxic, sustainable and environmentally friendly. This segment of pesticides is considered the future.
Regarding consumption in India, insecticides are the most commonly used pesticide, followed by fungicides and herbicides.
Commercial Pesticide Production
The first use of pesticides in agriculture was when the Sumerians used sulfur compounds to control insects 4500 years ago.
The industrial production of pesticides increased significantly in the 1940s because of the demand in the agriculture sector.
| Serial No. | Company Name | Location | Website | Establishment Year |
| 1 | Bayer CropScience Ltd. | Mumbai, Maharashtra | https://www.cropscience.bayer.in/ | 1958 |
| 2 | Syngenta India Ltd. | Mumbai, Maharashtra | https://www.syngenta.co.in/ | 2000 |
| 3 | UPL Limited | Mumbai, Maharashtra | https://www.upl-ltd.com/ | 1969 |
| 4 | PI Industries Ltd. | Gurugram, Haryana | https://piindustries.com/ | 1946 |
| 5 | Rallis India Ltd. | Mumbai, Maharashtra | https://www.rallis.co.in/ | 1948 |
| 6 | Dhanuka Agritech Ltd. | Gurgaon, Haryana | https://www.dhanuka.com/ | 1985 |
| 7 | Crystal Crop Protection Pvt Ltd. | New Delhi, Delhi | http://crystalcrop.co.in/ | 1994 |
| 8 | Bharat Rasayan Ltd. | New Delhi, Delhi | https://www.bharatrasayan.com/ | 1989 |
| 9 | Insecticides India Ltd. | New Delhi, Delhi | https://www.insecticidesindia.com/ | 2001 |
| 10 | Meghmani Organics Ltd. | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | https://www.meghmani.com/ | 1986 |
| 11 | Jubilant Agri and Consumer Pro. | Noida, Uttar Pradesh | https://www.jubilantagri.com/ | 2011 |
| 12 | Indofil Industries Ltd. | Mumbai, Maharashtra | https://www.indofilcc.com/ | 1953 |
| 13 | Aimco Pesticides Ltd. | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | http://www.aimcopesticides.com/ | 1994 |
| 14 | Dhanuka Pesticides Ltd. | Gurgaon, Haryana | https://www.dhanuka.com/ | 1980 |
| 15 | Sumitomo Chemical India Pvt Ltd. | Mumbai, Maharashtra | https://www.sumitomo-chem.co.in/ | 2001 |
List of Top Pesticide Companies in India and Their Market capitalisation
1. Bayer CropScience Ltd.
Bayer CropScience Ltd was established in the year of 1958. Bayer CropScience Ltd. is a leading player and right now at the top in the Indian pesticide market.
The company provides creative solutions for crop protection and pest management, catering to the needs of over 2 million farmers across the country.
Bayer CropScience has a diverse product portfolio, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and seed treatments. That included the insecticides such as Confidor, Decis, Gaucho, Lizetan, Monceren, and more.
There are some insecticides details which are produced in the company:
- Confidor: Confidor is a systemic insecticide commonly used to control sucking insects such as aphids, whiteflies, and scale insects. It is often used in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry to protect crops from pest damage.
- Decis: Decis is a broad-spectrum insecticide that controls insect pests, including caterpillars, beetles, and aphids. This insecticide is commonly used in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry to protect crops from pest damage.
2. Syngenta India Ltd.
Bayer Crop Science Ltd. is a subsidiary of the global pharmaceutical and life sciences company Bayer AG.
The company has been operating in India since 1896 and has a revenue of 3,472.7 crores. It is known for producing insecticides such as Admire, Baythroid, Confidor, Gaucho, and more.
There are some insecticides details which are produced in the company:
- Actara: Actara is a systemic insecticide used to restrain insect pests, including aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and leafhoppers.
- Durivo: Durivo is a combination of insecticide and fungicide used to control fungal diseases in crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, and grapes.
3. UPL Limited.
UPL Limited was established in 1969, UPL Limited. UPL Limited has a widespread network of distributors and dealers, catering to the needs of farmers in over 130 countries.
UPL Limited has production of insecticides such as Aaditya, Blast, Cheetah, Combat, Dragon, and more.
UPL Limited crossed the revenue of 8,408.80 Crores in India.
4. PI Industries Ltd.
PI Industries Ltd. was established in 1947 and is one of the leading manufacturers of agrochemicals in India.
With a revenue of 3,484.84 crores, the company offers a range of agrochemical products, including insecticides such as Nominee Gold, Chhaya, and Pegasus.
PI Industries also strongly focuses on research and development, with multiple state-of-the-art research facilities in India.
5. Rallis India Ltd.
Rallis India Ltd. is an associate of Tata Chemicals Limited and was established in the year 1948.
The company provides various crop protection solutions, including insecticides such as Metacid, Funnel, and Alestar.
Rallis India Ltd. has revenue of 2,525.57 crores. Rallis India has an emphatic focus on research and development, with multiple research facilities in India and over 300 scientists and researchers.
It produces various products, including pesticides, some of which are mentioned below.
- BLEND- It is a mixture of dimethomorph and Ametoctradin. BLEND is a fungicide exclusively used for grapes.
- ATRATAF- It is a herbicide, and it is used to control broad-leaf weeds in crops like sugarcane, maize, banana, pineapple, etc.
6. Dhanuka Agritech Ltd.
Dhanuka Agritech Ltd. was established in the year 1985 and, ever since, has become a leading company in the Indian agrochemical industry.
It has a revenue of 1,507.31 crores. This company helps develop insecticides such as Dhanucare, Danitol, and Dhanutop.
7. Crystal Crop Protection Pvt Ltd.
Crystal Crop Protection Pvt Ltdis Indias is one of the best agrochemical industries that was founded in 1994 in New Delhi, India.
Crystal Crop Protection Pvt Ltd. is well known for its insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides.
This company produces popular insecticides such as Monocil, Snipper, and Stryker.
8. Bharat Rasayan Ltd.
Bharat Rasayan Ltd. was established in 1989 and provides a wide range of crop protection solutions, including insecticides such as Triazophos, Profenophos, and Cypermethrin.
With a revenue of 771.97 crores, Bharat Rasayan strongly focuses on research and development and has multiple state-of-the-art research facilities in India.
9. Insecticides India Ltd.
Insecticides (India) Ltd. was established in 2001 and has since become a leading producer of insecticides in India.
With a revenue of 700.31 crores, the company offers a range of crop protection solutions, including insecticides such as Lethal, Thimet, and Othene.
It produces various products, including pesticides, some of which are mentioned below-
- Lethal – Insecticide that is effective against a wide range of pests, including bollworms, shoot borers, and leaf-eating caterpillars.
- Thimet – Insecticide produced by Insecticides (India) Ltd. that is effective against various pests, including aphids, leafhoppers, and thrips.
10. Meghmani Organics Ltd.
Meghmani Organics Ltd. was established in the year 1986 in Ahmedabad, India. It is an agrochemical company.
Megaban is effective against various pests, including bollworms, fruit borers, and caterpillars.
Meghmani Organics Ltd. also produces pigments and dyes and has a presence in the primary chemicals industry.
11. Jubilant Agri and Consumer Pro.
Jubilant Agri and Consumer Products Ltd. is an agrochemical company that was founded in 2002 in Noida.
One of the popular insecticides produced by this company is Sumeru and Joyride, which can be applied as a foliar spray.
It produces various products, including pesticides, some of which are mentioned below-
- Sumeru – Sumeru is a broad-spectrum insecticide which helps to kill aphids, thrips, and mites.
- Joyride – It is very good against a pest that feeds on the leaves or fruits of plants, including bollworms, fruit borers, and caterpillars.
12. Indofil Industries Ltd.
Indofil Industries Ltd. has produced chemicals and crop protection products since 1962. Indofil created several famous insecticides, such as Acephate, Chlorpyrifos, and Fipronil. It can be used on various crops, including cotton, soybeans, and vegetables.
It produces various products, including pesticides, some of which are mentioned below-
- Acephate is a systemic insecticide which helps to kill aphids, whiteflies, and thrips from the crops like cotton, soybeans, and vegetables.
- Fipronil is a newer insecticide used against termites, ants, and cockroaches from crops.
13. Aimco Pesticides Ltd.
Aimco Pesticides Ltd. is an agrochemical company in India. It was established in Delhi in 1976.
This company is very popular for Acephate, Buprofezin, carbosulfan, and Cypermethrin insecticides production.
These insecticides are very effective for aphids, mites, thrips, and whiteflies.
This company also helps control fungus growth by producing Mancozeb and Tricyclazole fungicides.
14. Dhanuka Pesticides Ltd.
Dhanuka Pesticides Ltd. was established in Gurgaon, Haryana, India, in 1980.
This company produces chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, Fipronil, and Thiamethoxam insecticides which are used against aphids, thrips, and mites for the crops like cotton, paddy, vegetables, and fruits.
This company also have fungicides such as Carbendazim and Mancozeb.
15. Sumitomo Chemical India Pvt Ltd.
The last top company is Sumitomo Chemical India Pvt Ltd., founded in Mumbai in 2001.
These companies have the best products, like Acephate, Bifenthrin, Fipronil, and Lambda Cyhalothrin insecticides for aphids, thrips, mites, whiteflies, and stem borers.
The future of the pesticide industry
Pesticide companies in India are projected to increase production in the coming years.
Over the past few decades, agriculture production has multiplied because of pesticide usage.
Therefore, farmers prefer to use these chemicals. But, like DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane), many of the pesticides are toxic and non-biodegradable.
Pesticides are known to contaminate soil and water, making pests more resistant to chemicals. They are also known to impact farmers’ health.
Recently, Government has directed pesticide companies in India, and the Ministry of Agriculture released a draft order to ban 27 pesticides, including chemicals like Carbendazin, Monocrotophos, Butachlor, Acephate, etc.
Read more about the ‘Banning of Insecticides Order 2020.’
To solve this problem, bio-pesticides and genetically modified crops have been introduced.
Bio-pesticides
Bio-pesticides are organisms or their products (enzymes and chemicals) that can be used for pest management without any harmful effects.
They are the need of the hour because of their action and non-toxicity.
Genetically modified crops
GMCs are crops that have altered DNA(deoxyribonucleic acid) to resist harmful pests.
One good example of a GMC is BT cotton. It prevents the infestation of bollworms by producing insecticide on its own.
Conclusion
The agrochemical industry is worth $2.8 billion, and pesticide companies in India stand in the second position in terms of agrochemical production.
However, the per hectare consumption of India is far less as compared to countries like China and Japan. To meet the food demand of the nation in the coming years, it is crucial to develop the pesticide/agrochemical industry.
But, only increasing the production won’t help. Pesticides and other agrochemicals should be made safer for the environment. For a better future, new and sustainable options like bio-pesticides and other non-toxic chemicals should be introduced in the markets. Hence, pesticide companies in India have an expectant future.