SOIL TREATMENT MARKET ANALYSIS

The high costs involved in soil treatment methods is a major factor restraining the growth of the global soil treatment market. Soil treatment practices such as soil testing, fertilizer application, liming, tillage etc require huge investments which many small and marginal farmers across the globe cannot afford. Soil testing itself is an expensive process which determines the nutritional needs of soil. Without knowing the deficiencies, appropriate fertilizers or soil amendments cannot be applied. The fertilizers and soil amendments then need to be purchased which have been rising drastically over the past few years due to increase in input costs.

Market Opportunities: Development of biofertilizers and biopesticides

The development of biofertilizers and biopesticides presents a great opportunity for growth in the global soil treatment market. Biofertilizers are fertilizers containing living microorganisms which help in increasing the nutrient quantity of the soil. They enrich soil fertility and its physical condition. Similarly, biopesticides are pesticides derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria and certain minerals. They help control pests such as insects, weeds, fungi and other organisms. The use of biofertilizers and biopesticides is gathering momentum globally as they offer more sustainable alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. They reduce the farmers' reliance on synthetically produced fertilizers and minimize the use of toxic chemicals in crop protection. Farmers are increasingly adopting organic farming practices which use bio-inputs to treat soil as they have minimal environmental impact and negligible health hazards. This reduces production costs in the long run for the farmers compared to chemical counterparts.