at cellular/molecular levels in animals and plants, and nano-array-based genetic
modification in animals and plants in stress conditions. Nanotechnology has the
potential of precise delivery of agrochemicals for improving disease resistance, plant
growth, and nutrient use. Nanoencapsulated products show the ability of more
effective and site-specific use of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides in an
eco-friendly and greener way. It is successfully used in postharvest for maintaining
freshness, quality, and shelf life of stored product and preventing disease occurrences in a fairly safer way. The use of nanomaterials is quite new in agriculture and
it requires additional research. Social and ethical repercussions of nanotechnology
uses in agriculture have to be considered. Before commercialization and field
application, toxicity of nanomaterials has to be evaluated.
Keywords Nanotechnology · Agriculture · Precision farming · Nanoremediation ·
Crop protection · Protocols
9.1 Introduction
Indian agricultural growth is 3.59% in 2004–2014 (Ministry of Finance, Govt of
India 2014) which is below than the targeted 4% annual growth in agricultural sector
for 2020. The major concern is food grain production. The annual per capita food
grain production has reduced from 207 kg in 1991/1995 to only 179 kg in 2014/2017
(Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India 2017–2018), and these declining trends pose
concern for food and nutritional security. With limited water and land resources,
targeted agricultural growth can be obtained by increasing per unit natural resources
productivity and farm income through judicious use of advanced technologies.
During the era of green revolution, potential yields and farm incomes were enhanced
manyfold using short-duration improved high-yielding varieties, intensive fertilizer
use, irrigation and pesticides, neglecting sustainable and efficient utilization of
natural resources. Recently, farm productivity and incomes have shown steady
decline. To maintain overall national growth, stabilization of agricultural production
is required as livelihood of 60% of Indian population depends on agriculture. The
problems are accelerated by deterioration of natural resources like soil, climate, and
water. This difficult situation of Indian agriculture is known as “technology fatigue.”
To overcome the “technology fatigue,” focusing on technologies that can increase
agricultural production, resource use efficiencies, and product quality is the need of
the hour.
Among the many scientific advancements, nanotechnology (NT) has been identified as one of the potential technologies that can revive the agriculture and food
industry (Kuzma and VerHage 2006) and can improve livelihood of poor people.
The European Commission has identified nanotechnology as one of the six “Key
Enabling Technologies” that can play important role in sustainable growth of
different fields (EC 2012). The term “nanotechnology” was first used by Norio
Taniguchi in 1974. Nanotechnology is the branch of science which studies the
318
P. Pramanik et al.
modification in animals and plants in stress conditions. Nanotechnology has the
potential of precise delivery of agrochemicals for improving disease resistance, plant
growth, and nutrient use. Nanoencapsulated products show the ability of more
effective and site-specific use of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides in an
eco-friendly and greener way. It is successfully used in postharvest for maintaining
freshness, quality, and shelf life of stored product and preventing disease occurrences in a fairly safer way. The use of nanomaterials is quite new in agriculture and
it requires additional research. Social and ethical repercussions of nanotechnology
uses in agriculture have to be considered. Before commercialization and field
application, toxicity of nanomaterials has to be evaluated.
Keywords Nanotechnology · Agriculture · Precision farming · Nanoremediation ·
Crop protection · Protocols
9.1 Introduction
Indian agricultural growth is 3.59% in 2004–2014 (Ministry of Finance, Govt of
India 2014) which is below than the targeted 4% annual growth in agricultural sector
for 2020. The major concern is food grain production. The annual per capita food
grain production has reduced from 207 kg in 1991/1995 to only 179 kg in 2014/2017
(Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India 2017–2018), and these declining trends pose
concern for food and nutritional security. With limited water and land resources,
targeted agricultural growth can be obtained by increasing per unit natural resources
productivity and farm income through judicious use of advanced technologies.
During the era of green revolution, potential yields and farm incomes were enhanced
manyfold using short-duration improved high-yielding varieties, intensive fertilizer
use, irrigation and pesticides, neglecting sustainable and efficient utilization of
natural resources. Recently, farm productivity and incomes have shown steady
decline. To maintain overall national growth, stabilization of agricultural production
is required as livelihood of 60% of Indian population depends on agriculture. The
problems are accelerated by deterioration of natural resources like soil, climate, and
water. This difficult situation of Indian agriculture is known as “technology fatigue.”
To overcome the “technology fatigue,” focusing on technologies that can increase
agricultural production, resource use efficiencies, and product quality is the need of
the hour.
Among the many scientific advancements, nanotechnology (NT) has been identified as one of the potential technologies that can revive the agriculture and food
industry (Kuzma and VerHage 2006) and can improve livelihood of poor people.
The European Commission has identified nanotechnology as one of the six “Key
Enabling Technologies” that can play important role in sustainable growth of
different fields (EC 2012). The term “nanotechnology” was first used by Norio
Taniguchi in 1974. Nanotechnology is the branch of science which studies the
318
P. Pramanik et al.