"Biostimulants are set to become an integral part of India's agriculture system"

Biostadt India, one of the world's largest companies in seaweed-based plant biostimulants, with multiple brands under its umbrella was started in 1987 as Biostadt Agri-sciences under the leadership of Juzar S. Khorakiwala. With a presence in over 20 countries, Biostadt India is a diversified agrochemical organisation with an annual turnover of Rs 1,000 crore. The company has gained a solid reputation in the agrochemical industry, with a focus on developing crop healthcare products that utilise biological means of plant protection and to increase farm productivity. One of their flagship products, Biozyme, is the world's largest selling plant growth stimulant. In an interview with AgroSpectrum Juzar S. Khorakiwala, Chairman & Managing Director, Biostadt India Limited, shared his views about the future prospects of the biostimulant industry in India. Edited excerpts;

- JUZAR S. KHORAKIWALA

How do you envisage the future of the biostimulants industry in India?

With the ongoing developments within the agriculture industry today and the environment becoming more positive, it is only a matter of time for biostimulants to become an integral part of the agriculture industry. We should be able to see a marked change in the industry within one decade.

Most Indian families have landholdings of less than 2 hectares each, and they are heavily focused on increasing harvest yields. How do you feel about biostimulants as a new advancement in this regard?

Intensive cultivation over a period of time has exhausted the soil resulting in a significant depletion of fertility levels. With the use of biostimulants which are, by nature, more effective on crop growth, farmers will be able to achieve better yield making it more feasible for them to produce and sell better quality crops. This also results in better soil health and productivity.

Which types of biostimulants are most popular among users, and where in the country are they most commonly used? 

Amongst those available today, we see the use of biostimulants that have high content of amino acids, humic acids and especially seaweed extracts. These are being used effectively to improve agricultural yields across the country.

If we compare biostimulants with biopesticides and biofertilisers, which is producing better results and why?