Thu Feb 27 16:09:15 UTC 2025: ## India Urges Farmers to Reduce Pesticide Use to Boost Food Exports
**Bengaluru, February 27, 2025** – Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje called on farmers and agricultural innovators to significantly reduce pesticide use in food crops to enhance India’s export capabilities and achieve its goal of becoming the world’s “food basket” by 2047. Speaking at the inauguration of the National Horticulture Fair 2025 in Bengaluru, she highlighted India’s substantial agricultural output – 265 million metric tonnes of fruits and vegetables and 340 million metric tonnes of food grains – but emphasized the need to prioritize quality alongside quantity.
Increased pesticide residues in exported crops are currently hindering international trade, Minister Karandlaje explained. She stressed the role of agricultural universities, Krishi Vijnan Kendras (KVKs), and government departments in educating farmers on sustainable farming practices, including boosting soil fertility and adopting high-yielding, high-plant-density crops. The minister also noted the growing demand for ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products, emphasizing the potential for collaboration between the agriculture sector and MSMEs to meet this demand.
NITI Aayog Member Ramesh Chand advocated for a “second green revolution” focused on horticulture, citing the sector’s impressive growth rate exceeding 7% annually, compared to agriculture’s growth rate of under 4%. He also claimed that horticulture farmers had already doubled their income in the last decade.
The three-day National Horticulture Fair, featuring approximately 250 stalls showcasing products and innovations from across India, concluded on March 1. While some farmers expressed satisfaction with the fair’s offerings, others noted a discrepancy between advertised and actual stall offerings.
First Piper 