Drones are fast emerging as a viable alternative to a few key manual agricultural practices including agrochemical spraying. Given the current buzz around this technology, leading experts from this segment will discuss the current trends and its future role at the  inaugural edition of AgroChem Summit 2023, organized by the Indian Chemical News (ICN) on February 24, 2023 at The Park Hotel in New Delhi.

The second session of the summit titled, ‘Role of Drones in Agrochemicals Sector’ is aimed at discussing the overall policy perspectives regarding  drone technology by the agrochemical industry besides the challenges and opportunities that come with its adoption.

Those interested can register as delegates by clicking on the link (https://www.indianchemicalnews.com/agrochem-summit-2023/register.php)

The panelists at the session include Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Director, Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology; Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace; Smit Shah, President, Drone Federation of India; Prem Kumar Vislawath, Founder & CEO, Marut Drones; Sanjeev Kashyap, Chief Delivery Officer, General Aeronautics; and Suraj Kumar, Head - Strategy, IoTechWorld Avigation.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Durgesh C. Sharma, Secretary General, CropLife India.

The topics that will be covered under the session include drone policy and its impact on agrochemicals; drones and PLI scheme of government; usage of drones in agrochemicals; challenges in deploying drones; and drone start-ups and new innovations.

As predicted by latest knowledge reports, India has the potential to become “The Global Manufacturing Hub” for Agrochemicals due to a number of favourable factors such as low manufacturing cost driven by availability of labor and tax benefits, technically trained manpower, under utilised production capacity, seasonal domestic demand, and low usage etc. There is a huge domestic market for growth and equally promising are the opportunities in the Agrochemicals export space.

In this context, the Summit themed as "Making India A Manufacturing Hub" has lined up the country’s top agrochemical industry experts.  The inaugural edition aims to bring all stakeholders of the agrochemicals sector under one platform to brainstorm on the growth opportunities, safe and judicious use of agrochemicals by farmers, and current issues to draw a roadmap for the future direction of the Indian agrochemicals sector.

Arun Baroka, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India will deliver the Chief Guest address. Susanta Kumar Purohit, Joint Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India will also participate as a panelist in Collaborative Approach to Realistic Agrochemicals Potential session.

The Summit will focus on: Policy Support for Growth of Indian Agrochemicals; Enabling Regulatory Ecosystem for the Growth of Agrochemicals Industries; Role of Drones in Agrochemicals Sector; Collaborative Approach to Realistic Agrochemicals Potential; and Agrochemicals 2030: The Future Perfect.

The brainstorming by the experts at well attended sessions is expected to help curate a comprehensive review of the Agrochemical sector, understanding the challenges as well as the opportunity that the segment offers. It also aims to develop a synthesis of ideas on policy initiatives and support, long and medium term action for the sector from within and outside in order to bring momentum and catalyze an action plan that is the need of the hour.

The Summit is supported by Platinum Partner - UPL; Gold Partners - Godrej Agrovet, BASF, FMC, Dassault Systemes Solize, Carbanio, and Auxilife (a unit of GPC); and Associate Partner - Resistotech and Super Scientific Works. The event is supported by Industry Association Partners - PMFAI (Pesticides Manufacturers & Formulators Association of India), Croplife India, ACFI (Agro Chem Federation of India), and CCFI (Crop Care Federation of India).