India Rajasthan government bats for nanotechnology to better farming sector

With the aim to reduce use of chemical in farming and double the income of farmers by increasing production and reducing expenditure, Rajasthan agriculture department is soon going to introduce nanotechnology based products in farming. Agriculture minister Prabhu Lal Saini has instructed the state agriculture experts to test the products before giving it to farmers at large.

“A private company has offered nanotechnology based products to make crops pestfree and to increase production by reducing the use of fertilizers,” Saini told DNA. “This Gujrat based company, last week, has given a presentation of its products. I have instructed the agriculture university to use these products in farms at agriculture research centres and centres of excellence on an experimental basis to know the results,” he added.

The agriculture minister is of the view that using nanotechnology based products will certainly help to reduce expenditure on pesticides and fertilizers. In his opinion, it will also help in maintaining soil health and will improve quality of agriculture products as well.

“Nanotechnology based pesticide is made from the extract of coconut, potato, corn, soy, sugarcane, and vegetables. This product is environmental friendly and pure. As per my knowledge, the most important thing about this is that it will kill only the enemy pests and not friendly insects. Similarly, another product is made from the extract of vegetables and cereals, and it will bring down the consumption of fertilizers by 40 per cent,” said Saini.

As per the agriculture minister, the products offered by the company are tested by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. “But before taking any decision, we will test these products on our government farms,” said Saini.

Nanotechnology based fertilizer are made of nano-sized nitrogen molecules coated in a polymer coating that protects the fertilizer from the elements. This coating contains nano-sized ‘biosensors’ made up of a very specific chemical compound that allow the fertilizer to be released into the soil when the plant needs it.