It is an established fact that there is a definite co-relation between amount spent on crop protection and the country's crop yields.

Japan spends US $1113 per hectare on crop protection and it yields 6,010 kg of rice per hectare. In contrast, India spends US $3 per hectare on crop protection which yields around 1,879 kg of rice per hectare.

Moreover, with no further landavailable for cultivation, India will have to significantly rely on crop protection techniques to enhance crop yields in order to sustain the desired growth levels in agriculture production.

Crop protection objectives could be achieved through the use of specially designed chemicals, e.g. monochrotophos, botanical extracts like neem, specially cultured bacteria like Bt and genetic engineering (e.g Bollgaurd cotton).

Though these methods are more often used in combination, 80 per cent of the crop protection market worldwide comprises of agrochemicals. With time, the survival instinct of all pests leads to development of 'resistance' to crop protection agents irrespective of the methodology employed. Hence, the need for constant research to bring out newer alternatives at frequent intervals will become imperative. Moreover, the WTO agreement will force the producing nations to bring down costs in order to maintain the competitive edge, even after withdrawal of subsidies on agro-produces. This is beingsought to be achieved by lowering of tariffs and encouraging competition. In other words, it is boom time for generics and the lowest cost producer will be the winner.