In today’s agricultural landscape, crop protection plays a vital role in ensuring food security and farmer prosperity. However, the true value of these scientific advancements is realized only when they are applied safely and responsibly. Bridging the gap between product potential and safe, on-ground usage remains one of the sector’s most pressing challenges.
At TheCSRUniverse, we have been closely tracking how corporate stewardship is evolving, from a compliance-driven function to one rooted in active, field-level engagement. A compelling example is Insecticides India Ltd (IIL), which recently marked its Product Stewardship Day by training over 26,000 farmers across the country. The initiative focused on practical aspects of safety, including correct dosage, use of protective gear, and responsible waste disposal, ensuring that productivity does not come at the cost of human health or environmental sustainability.
In this exclusive interview, Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director of Insecticides India Ltd and Vice-Chairman of the Crop Care Federation of India, shares insights on driving behavioural change at the grassroots. He discusses how localized outreach, continuous engagement, and hands-on training are helping transform safety awareness into a consistent farming practice across India.
Read the full interview below
Q&A
Q. Farmers across India and the globe are prone to serious risks due to unsafe handling of crop protection products. Could you share the key safety gaps you’ve observed on the ground?
A. Safety is something that is required everywhere, and spraying of pesticide is no exception. Training on Awareness of safe and responsible use of pesticides and their reminders are the key for the same. We work tirelessly to inform and educate the team, channel partners and the farmers on the products, its usage method, dosage and safety precautions for the same. Although the same is mentioned on the label and the enclosed leaflet in details.
Government and corporates are working for the same so that they are able to reach maximum number of farmers, to make them aware for the same. Safety of the person spraying and the crop is of prime importance with equal importance to environment. While regulatory guidelines and safety advisories are in place, many farmers do not always have access to hands-on demonstrations or direct engagement with technical experts. This is where greater industry participation becomes important. Field-level meetings and farmer training programmes can play a meaningful role in bridging this gap, as they allow farmers to better understand correct application techniques, safe storage, and responsible disposal practices. Such engagements help reinforce responsible farming practices while also supporting safer and more sustainable agricultural growth.
Q. With over 26,000 farmers trained during Product Stewardship Day, IIL has made a significant effort to improve awareness. What were the most crucial messages or practices you wanted them to adopt?
A. The primary objective of Product Stewardship Day was to reinforce the importance of the safe and responsible use of pesticides among farmers. Crop Protection remains a non-discretionary input for farmers, particularly as there is an increasing focus on productivity, yield optimisation, and protecting crops from evolving pest pressures. In this context, it becomes equally important that these solutions are used in a safe, responsible, and scientifically guided manner.
Through these engagements, we focused on a few key practices, understanding the correct dosage and application methods, following the safety instructions mentioned on product label and leaflets, and using appropriate protective equipment during spraying. We also emphasised the importance of proper storage and disposal practices to minimise potential risks to both users and the surrounding environment.
The initiative was designed as a practical learning platform where farmers could directly interact with field experts of IIL and better understand recommended usage practices in the vernacular langauges. By conducting more than 425 meetings and engaging with over 26,000 farmers across the country, the aim was to strengthen awareness around responsible crop protection practices while supporting safer and more sustainable agricultural growth. This will also encourage other players in the industry to come forward and join the initiative.
Q. Ensuring knowledge translates into action can be challenging. How does IIL follow up to ensure farmers actually implement safer practices in their fields?
A. Ensuring that awareness translates into on-ground action requires continuous engagement beyond a single training initiative. At Insecticides (India) Limited, our approach is centred on sustained farmer outreach through field teams, dealer networks, and regular agronomic advisory interactions. These touchpoints allow us to reinforce the key safety practices discussed during stewardship programmes and address any practical challenges farmers may face while implementing them in their fields.
We also encourage farmers to adopt recommended application methods, follow label & leaflet instructions carefully, and use protective equipment while handling crop protection products. In addition, our field teams conduct follow-up interactions and demonstrations in collaboration with channel partners and institutions such as Krishi Vigyan Kendras, which helps reinforce these practices in a practical setting.
This continuous engagement helps ensure that the knowledge shared during these initiatives is not limited to awareness alone but gradually translates into safer and more responsible crop protection practices at the farm level, supporting both farmer well-being and sustainable agricultural outcomes.
Q. Your training programmes go beyond chemical safety. How do they integrate broader sustainable agriculture practices, like soil health, water conservation, or reducing environmental impact?
A. Our training programmes are designed to go well beyond chemical safety, taking a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture. While we continue to educate farmers on the safe and responsible use of crop protection products, we also integrate broader practices that support long-term farm productivity and environmental stewardship which comes under the storage and disposal of the waste containers of pesticides.
Through these initiatives, we train farmers on optimizing input usage to protect soil health, prevent over-application and application at the right time, and reduce ecological impact.
Additionally, our emphasis on research and development enables us to introduce innovative and more sustainable solutions, including products designed to minimize environmental load. By combining on-ground training with innovation, we empower farmers to make informed decisions that enhance crop yields while conserving natural resources and safeguarding the broader ecosystem.
Ultimately, our goal is to drive a culture of responsible agriculture, where productivity, environmental protection, and resource efficiency go hand in hand.
Q. Many farmers may underestimate the health risks of improper chemical use. In your experience, which approaches work best to make them aware and cautious?
A. In our experience, awareness is most effective when it is practical, relatable, and delivered through direct engagement rather than just theoretical communication. Many farmers may underestimate the risks simply because they haven’t seen or experienced the consequences firsthand. That’s why we focus on on-ground interventions such as workshops and live training sessions, where learning is interactive and demonstrative.
Through these large-scale initiatives, where we have engaged over 26,000 farmers across 425+ meetings, we emphasize real-life scenarios, correct application techniques, and the importance of protective measures. Providing safety kits and demonstrating their usage has proven particularly impactful, as it turns awareness into actionable behaviour.
We also leverage tech-enabled engagement to stay connected with farmers beyond physical sessions, reinforcing key messages consistently. By positioning ourselves as a solutions partner rather than just a product provider, we are able to build trust and encourage farmers to adopt safer practices that protect not only their health, but also their soil, crops, and surrounding environment.
Ultimately, a combination of continuous engagement, practical training, and trust-building is what truly drives behavioural change on the ground.
Q. Reaching small and marginal farmers in remote areas is no easy task. Could you explain how IIL designs its outreach to ensure inclusivity?
A. Reaching small and marginal farmers, especially in remote geographies, requires a deeply localized and inclusive approach. At IIL, we have consciously designed our outreach to be field-led, accessible, and highly participative.
We actively engage farmers through an extensive on-ground network of over 600 crop advisors and a on ground team of 700+ techno commercial individuals, who work closely with farming communities, understanding their unique challenges and providing tailored guidance.
This is complemented by field demonstrations & field days and regular training sessions under the ICS program, where the difference of farmer practice and the best practice is being demonstrated at the farmer’s field only.
Importantly, we focus on making these interactions simple, vernacular, and hands-on, so that farmers, regardless of scale or literacy levels, can easily adopt best practices. By combining strong last-mile connectivity with continuous engagement, we strive to make our outreach truly inclusive and impactful.
Q. Behaviour change in farming takes time. Have you observed tangible changes in farmers’ practices after your trainings? If so, could you share an example that reflects improved safety or sustainability?
A. Behaviour change in farming is gradual, but we are seeing encouraging and tangible shifts on the ground, particularly among younger farmers. This segment is far more open, curious, and eager to learn new practices, whether it is adopting safer application methods or understanding the importance of sustainability in farming.
Through our Product Stewardship initiatives, conducted across the country, we have observed a noticeable improvement in awareness and on-field practices. For instance, many farmers who earlier relied on traditional methods are now more mindful about the correct dosage and application of crop protection solutions, use of safety gear, and timing of sprays to minimise environmental impact.
There is also a growing emphasis on efficient water usage and better soil management, driven by increased awareness and practical training. By equipping farmers with the right knowledge and demonstrating best practices, we are seeing them make more informed decisions that benefit not just productivity, but also long-term sustainability.
Overall, this shift reflects how continuous engagement and education are empowering farmers to adopt safer, more responsible, and future-ready agricultural practices.
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