Abstract
Abstract Biofertilizers and biopesticides (together known as ‘biologicals’) hold the potential to increase farmers’ current agricultural productivity, while at the same time contributing to the soil’s ability to produce more in the future. However, the legal registration of microbial products and the operation of businesses dealing in biologicals face certain barriers, which ultimately affect the expansion and widespread use of these green products in Indian agriculture. By involving manufacturers, suppliers and traders of biologicals, as well as government officers dealing with biologicals in India, a study was conducted using participatory methods of semi-structured interviews, structured interviews and informal discussions. This article explores the participants’ perceptions and understanding of the barriers, obstacles and issues in the registration, licensing, proliferation and business operations surrounding the manufacturing, sale, trade, import, export, storage, use, and transport of microbial products. Numerous barriers to business and trade in microbial green products – biofertilizers and biopesticides – are identified. Nevertheless, certain weaknesses related to quality compliance and monitoring are also identified on the part of the manufacturers and suppliers of these biologicals, indicating that the government’s regulatory system must be more efficient and competent in handling these processes.
Highlights
The registration application for biopesticides is submitted to the Central Insecticides Board (CIB) at the Ministry of Agriculture and registration is undertaken under the Insecticides Act 1968
In India, the registration application for biopesticides is submitted to the Central Insecticides Board (CIB) at the Ministry of Agriculture and registration is undertaken under the Insecticides Act 1968
Biofertilizers are registered with the Agriculture Department of a State Government under the Fertilizer Control Order 1985, and licenses are issued for the manufacture, importation, trade, transport, and storage
Summary
The Department of Biotechnology of the Ministry of Science & Technology plays the role of technical agency in the approval process for effectiveness, quality and safety issues. In addition to these regulations, organic food producers in India are supposed to comply with the National Program for Organic Production (NPOP) standards with mandatory organic certification by authorized certification agencies. This article explores participants’ perceptions and understanding of participant barriers, obstacles and issues in the registration, licensing, proliferation and business operations surrounding the manufacturing, sale, trade, import, export, storage, use, and transport of microbial products. This article is part of a larger study conducted between September 2017 and February 2020 by the authors at the Faculty of Law, Université de Montréal, with the support of Mitacs and Earth Alive Clean Technologies
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