Market Trends of Cotton Seed Treatment Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Cotton Seed Treatment Market according to our research experts:
Higher Efficacy Leading to Growth of the Fungicides Segment
Early-stage fungal diseases in cotton can easily be controlled using seed treatment. The major fungal pathogens that can be controlled in early-stage cotton include Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Helminthosporium, Pythium, Phytophthora, and Thielaviopsis. Although insects are the most damaging pests to cotton crop, fungal diseases at the early stages of the crop have found greater control through seed treatment. Some of the most popular fungicides used in the seed treatment of cotton are Azoxystrobin, Difenoconazole, Fludioxonil, Metalaxyl, and Myclobutanil, among others. These fungicides are used mostly in combinations to provide broad-spectrum control to more than one pathogen. The increased efficacy of fungicidal seed treatment products is expected to drive the market for the fungicide segment of the cotton seed treatment market.
Asia-Pacific Leads the Global Market
India, China, and Pakistan are the countries that cultivate a majority of cotton in the Asia-Pacific region. Cotton is grown over 12.2 million hectares in India. By the year 2014, India had achieved almost 92% penetration of genetically modified cotton. This has led to India being the top cotton producer and raw cotton exporter in the world. The adoption of GM cotton also means that the segment of commercial seed treatment in cotton has grown phenomenally over the review period. The Asia-Pacific market is characterized by the presence of large multinationals as well as smaller regional players active in the market. Companies active in the commercial segment of the market in the region are increasingly focusing on providing seed companies with product combinations, which provide broad spectrum control to almost all the pathogens and pests that infest cotton for the first 15-20 days of the crop.
