Farmers may have to brace themselves for a third round of price hike of crop protection products this season in the wake of spiralling input costs, weak rupee and supply pressures.

Insecticides India Ltd, which has revised the prices of its products twice this year, is planning to go in for a third revision next month.

“With demand (for pesticides) rising and supply position tight, coupled with rising input costs, we may have to go for another hike next month. This is in line with industry trends,” Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, said.

The firm had raised the prices by five per cent each in the last two rounds this season.

It has a portfolio of 120 products in the insecticide, herbicide and weedicide segments, with its nine major brands, including Thimit, Monocil and Pulsor, accounting for almost 50 per cent of its sales.

The prices range from Rs 125 a litre to the recently launched new generation products that carry a tag of Rs 6,000 a kg.

“The price hike will be more in the herbicide segment, which is facing the most supply pressures. On an average, it could be another five per cent this time too,” Aggarwal told media persons here today.

Insecticides India is expected to complete the expansion of its capacity from over two lakh tonnes to three lakh tonnes in the next two months.

“Our new Rajasthan facility is almost ready, which will be our sixth plant. With the expansion and steady demand this season, we are aiming at a turnover of Rs 850 crore this fiscal, up from Rs 650 crore last year,” he said.

>amitmitra@thehindu.co.in

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