(MENAFN Editorial) The technical definition ofseed treatmentis the controlled and regulated application of chemical growth regulators or biological organisms to a seed to allow the suppressing, repelling or control of plant pathogens. This technique is also effective in fighting against insects or other pests that affect crops, seeds and seedlings. The list of seed treatment devices is quite long with the mention worthy ones being herbicide safety improving chemicals, micronutrients, inoculants, growth regulators, colorants and seed coatings. The seeds that are chemically treated in this industry are specially classified to be used to agricultural purposes only and cannot or rather should not be used for human or animal consumption.

The population of the world is increasing day by day, with not just humans but also increasing livestock populations necessitating larger quantities of food. The problem with the increased demand is that the available farm land is not increasing to meet the demand. Rather more worryingly, it is decreasing. This puts an added pressure on the existing farmland to have a high level of efficiency per hectare.Seed treatmentis one such method that we have come up with to tackle higher efficiency needs. The limited land resources are now putting pressure on researchers in the field to perfect seed treatment since even this is coming up short in meeting the gigantic demand for food.

Listing down the other factors that drive the seed treatment market, the main ones that come to mind are the recent agronomic trends, developments in genetic engineering, wider acceptance of genetically modified organisms, climate change, crop rotation being practiced on a much larger scale, changes in sowing techniques and greater pressures from regulatory agencies regarding farmland efficiency and throughput. The advantages of seed treatment that help it to make a good case are the protection it provides during germination, the additional support during early stages of development and enhancing tolerance to adverse conditions. Overall, it lays a good foundation for the crop to be nurtured with fertilizers and other agricultural boosters later on.

The main points of contention for the improved performance of the seed treatment market are the improvements in the active ingredients used in the process, the change in farming practices with more emphasis on maximizing the yield, the higher costs of the inputs and the additional pest control that it provides in addition to keeping the crops safe.

There is no doubt that the seed treatment market is set to stay and the growth it has shown in recent years is a testament of the fact. There are certain environmental concerns related to the use of chemicals in seed treatment. The fundamental problem brought up by most NGOs is that overuse of seed treated products will lead to the complete eradication of the native seeds with repeated use. The costs associated with seed treatment are yet another deterrent for farmers, who choose to skip the seed treatment and start with fertilization of seedling. This leaves the initial growth period of the seeds in jeopardy and may lead to reduced productivity. Phytotoxic nature of the products applied should also be checked for before the formulation is applied on fields or gardens. These fundamental issues as well as some of the economic issues need to be addressed for the unhindered growth of the sector.

The prospects of product development, eco-friendly methods of seed treatment and biodegradable solutions used for the same provide ample opportunity for the future of this sector. Looking at the global markets, the North American market is the global leader, while Asia Pacific has shown the best growth rates in the last 5 years. The Asia Pacific market shows the most promise with nations like China and India willing to adopt the trend vigorously in the real world due to the increased demand for crop protection.

Check outMarket Data Forecast's comprehensive reports with in-depth analysis about theafree research samplecan also be availed. Stay tuned for trending news stories about the latest technologies and interesting Agriculture tit-bit

View Full Report:

MENAFN0401201800703077ID1096312371