The Covid-19 pandemic have impacted the agricultural industry as there is disruption in global demand and supply of cereals, nuts, fruits and other agricultural products. Whereas, due to the extended lockdown food have been drastically impacted in all over world including North America and Europe. The global agriculture system has been facing major challenges during this pandemic. However, agricultural industry is likely to be impacted drastically. Agricultural disinfectant is essential component which is basically used for protection of livestock and crops. The lockdown have been created opportunity to the agricultural disinfectant as this is primarily used for protection and it is known as precaution so that viral or bacterial infection is avoided.
Agricultural disinfectants are classified into different forms such as liquid powder, granule and gel, among others. This disinfectant is used to destroy microorganism which are present on the surface of agricultural products. These are also known as agent which are chemical or heat irradiation which particularly inhibit, destroy or neutralize the growth of microorganism. As this agricultural disinfectant inhibits the growth of Bactria, virus or molds on crop, it impacts on the crop production and it maintains health of crops. Thus it is has large demand to maintain healthy of crops and thereby increased its production. Owing to this pandemic, awareness regarding preventive measure that have to take in handling of any agricultural products, any equipment’s and other agricultural related procedure has been increased. Government and other public healthcare association are providing guidelines regarding the handling of these products.
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These guidelines are particularly provided to farmers for their daily routine. However, the pandemic have changed the preference of agricultural disinfectants with the consciousness of preventive measure for health of field crops and hence farmers are more prone towards taking care and demanding agricultural disinfectant for crop protection and their growth. The agricultural disinfectant concept has been evolved due to the destruction of harmful bacteria, virus from crop plants to inhibit its growth. Inhibiting and handling plant diseases such as mildew and root rot; this disinfectant further eliminates post-harvest losses. The treatment or disinfection of water for the rinsing or washing of salads, vegetables and fruit is not, as such, an application for agriculture or agriculture, but is included for completeness.
Although plant diseases are primarily caused by fungi, but plant epidemiology is not so much vary from humans. However, owing to this pandemic, farmers are much more aware regarding health of plant. These farmers are approaching disease management authorities and other government associations to identify and tolerate plant virus to maintain plant health.
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Further, farmers are more aware regarding bacterial growth on crops. Hydrogen peroxide is one of the well known as an ingredient in disinfectant products. However it is now approved for controlling pests on crops in their breeding period and after harvesting. In 2020, it is approved and stated as safe for crop. Hydrogen peroxide is prevents and controls bacteria and fungi which may cause plant diseases. In this pandemic, agricultural disinfectant manufacturers are trying to provide safe and effective disinfectant to prevent harmful growth of bacteria on crop health. Thus, it is expected that owing to this availability of qualified disinfectant for agri sector, global agricultural production should not impacted to a negative extant.
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Initiatives
Outbreak of Coronavirus has affected every sector in the agricultural industry including all agricultural related products. The industry has affected as the supply and demand are badly disrupted.
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THYMOX is the first agricultural disinfectant in Canada to obtain UL EcoLogo certification: the most important, most respected environmental certification in North America and one that is recognized worldwide. Thymox disinfectant spray (EPA-87742-1) has demonstrated effectiveness against human Coronavirus strain 229E and is expected to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).
We are working hard to make our expertise and resources available to you in this challenging time. While in-person events and some on-campus services are suspended to protect public health, we are continuing with some scouting and farm visits, and many existing and new resources are available online and through virtual delivery.
For Farmers and Growers there are new online educational programs:
The UMass Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Lab is pleased to announce that we will be accepting new orders for ROUTINE SOIL ANALYSIS and PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS orders ONLY beginning July 13. Please do not send orders for other types of analyses at this time. Orders should be sent via USPS, UPS, FedEx or other private carrier. The lab office will remain closed to the general public until further notice and hand-delivered orders will not be accepted at this time. Processing time may be longer than usual since we are operating with reduced staff and staggered shifts.
CONCLUSION
As the effects of COVID-19 are felt around the world, agricultural disinfectant manufacturers have been significantly impacted by raised awareness regarding crop health. However, regulatory norms around social distancing across multiple nations, reduced social gatherings were estimated to impact the procedures of farm such to a high extent. However, agricultural disinfectant are seeing a stable sale in their products through non store based retailing and hence foresee stability in demand during the coming months of this fiscal year.
Agricultural disinfectants are one of the major preventive measures which are used to inhibit fungal, bacterial and viral growth. Thus, it is more prefer by farmer who are taking care for crop health, which has raised the sales for this disinfectant owing to impacting wellbeing of health of crop. Though, there has been a stable growth in demand for agricultural disinfectant, the purchasing behavior among farmers have greatly disrupted the distribution channels for these products. Also, owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been an increasing awareness among farmers, on disinfectants wherein, the demand for these products has been on a rise. Agricultural disinfectant in agricultural industry is expected to grow substantially during the coming years, with the rising awareness among farmers regarding crop health and their growth. Thus, the impact of pandemic has been neutral for the global agricultural disinfectant market and hence, a stable growth can be observed during upcoming years, with many opportunities of new products development for the manufacturers.