Market Trends of africa nematicide Industry
The demand for nematicides is driven by their effectiveness in controlling nematodes
- The average nematicide consumption per hectare of agricultural land in Africa was recorded at 233.9 grams in the year 2022. The root-knot and lesion nematodes are widely distributed in South Africa. The root-knot nematode causes the most damage, and yield loss in potatoes was estimated to be 16·7%, accounting for USD 7.0 million annually, followed by the lesion nematode. The golden cyst nematode is a quarantine pest found in isolated areas in South Africa.
- Meloidogyne spp is known to cause severe losses in various crops across African countries. For instance, crop losses of 30% or more in tobacco farms in some parts of Tanzania and 50% yield loss in banana plantations in Uganda have been reported due to Meloidogyne spp. These instances are increasing the need for nematicides in the region. Moreover, the lack of alternative strategies that are effective may greatly contribute to increased usage of nematicides, which otherwise may lead to food crises across the continent.
- In the hot and dry summer seasons, nematodes can enter a state of dormancy in the soil, enabling them to survive unfavorable conditions. When mild and wet winters arrive, the nematodes become active again, resulting in rapid multiplication, which poses a significant threat to crops. Consequently, higher application rates of nematicides are observed during the winter season in Africa. Additionally, farmers' increasing awareness of nematode damage symptoms, often mistaken for nutrient deficiencies, is driving the market for nematicides.
- The factors like significant yield losses when nematodes are left uncontrolled and lack of other effective alternative solutions to chemical nematicides are forcing farmers to use higher amounts of nematicides per hectare in African countries.
Increasing nematode infestation caused by root-knot nematodes is raising the demand for nematicides and their prices in the region
- Plant parasitic nematodes have emerged as a substantial threat to the region's agriculture sector. The prevalence of intensive agriculture practices, such as no-tillage and monoculture, coupled with the impact of climate change, particularly the rise in warm conditions, has created a favorable environment for nematode growth, resulting in significant losses for the sector.
- Fluensulfone holds a prominent position as a widely used nematicide in the region, and its active ingredient was priced at USD 19,038.9 per metric ton in 2022. This marked a significant increase of 17.9% compared to its price in 2017. The active ingredient is specifically formulated to combat root-knot nematodes in various crops, including cucurbits, fruiting vegetables, leafy vegetables, certain berry crops, brassica vegetables, various root and tuber crops, sugar cane, coffee, black pepper, and soybean. The increasing demand for the active ingredient is driven by its effectiveness in controlling root-knot species.
- Abamectin serves as a systemic nematicide utilized for seed treatment, providing an efficient solution to minimize early-growth root infections caused by nematodes, including the control of root-knot nematode species. The cost of Abamectin's active ingredient has been on the rise, reaching USD 12,276.6 per metric ton in 2022, driven by growing demand and limited availability within the region. South Africa and Kenya are the primary importers of Abamectin, sourcing it from China, India, Denmark, and the United States.
- Oxamyl is a non-fumigant nematicide and insecticide available in various forms, capable of controlling root-knot nematodes in groundnuts, potatoes, sugarcane, and pineapples. The price of the active ingredient was USD 8,803.3 per metric ton in 2022, which is increasing Y-O-Y.