Commodity Online
NEW DELHI: What is the connection between pesticides and sports? And what do have farmers to do with Olympics? A lot.

After the Beijing Olympics game a big boost to India’s coir industry following its increased demand for coir products to prepare the Olympic venues, now the event has come as a rude shock for farmers who heavily depend on pesticides for pest control in their farms.

In the recent times, India’s export of coir and several other commodities to China had gone up due to the increased demand for Olympics preparations.

However, China recently closed down over 1,000 chemical units fearing health hazard to sportspersons who are arriving for the Olympics, which begins in August.

India heavily depend on chemicals from China to manufacture pesticides. Following China’s decision to shut down chemical units, prices of pesticides in India have gone up by around 70 per cent.

India’s pesticides industry is worth Rs 6,000 crore. Several small and medium players had to close shop in India following the price rise.

India imports over Rs 1,000-crore worth basic material from China for pesticides.

It was not just the Olympics factor that resulted in the price rise. Excise duty of 14.42 per cent and sales tax of 4 per cent too played a role.

A meeting of the pesticides producers was held in Hyderabad to discuss the problems faced by the industry.

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