Page 47 - Abhivruddhi

particles have the unique optical properties, and the high surface-to-
volume ratio. For instance, for the controlled release of agrochemicals
entrapped in substances like chitosan (polymer from marine shell
waste), alginate (algal product), porous hollow silica, and others are
useful while metal oxide nanoparticles are used for the photocatalytic
degradation of toxic agrochemicals, and soil detoxification. A number
of metal nanoparticles show activity against plant pathogens in the field.
Herbicides sometimes are toxic to the crop plants too. In this regard, a
target-specific nano-formulation with herbicide molecule (e.g. atrazine)
can be applied in the field. Porous hollow silica nano particles can be used
for the slow release of a pesticide, validamycin and also they themselves
work as Nano pesticide. Amorphous nano silica is helpful to control pests
of grains in warehouse which is a major problem in India. Moreover, US
Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has declared that amorphous
nano silica is safe for use in agriculture.
Now issues related to ethics and risks involved are important
components for any new strategy to be used in crop protection. For
instance, nanotechnology is based on the use of small volumes of a
nanoproduct, its slow release for longer duration which is effective for
pest and pathogen control. However, one cannot ignore the fact that same
could increase the risk to the beneficial soil communities. Though the
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of
agro-nanotechnology is encouraging, the farmers seldom change their
routine practices. Hopefully increased use of nanotechnology in other
industries might help to facilitate acceptance of the farming community
for nano-scale products (Deshpande, 2019; Ghormade et al, 2011).
Plant breeding and genetic engineering. The plant breeders usually
develop high-yielding varieties which are useful to maintain adequate
food supplies for the ever-expanding world population. And now
advances in genetics, biostatistics and bioinformatics have accelerated
breeding programmes too. Number of times high- yielding varieties are
less resistant to pests. The idea of conventional breeding is now losing
battle against climate change. Number of reports suggest that using
the transgenic technology one can achieve the goal of food security for
ever increasing world population. The genetically engineered tomato,
brinjal have been developed and tested in the fields too. The genetically
modified (GM) crops increase in agricultural yield by 22 percent and
increase farmers’ profits by 68 percent, with profit margins even larger in
developing countries. One of the reviews published in 2017 reported that

47