~ 2607 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies 2018; 6(5): 2607-2610 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2018; 6(5): 2607-2610 © 2018 IJCS Received: 04-07-2018 Accepted: 08-08-2018 Rohit Ramesh M. Sc. Student, Department of Agricultural Entomology, BACA, AAU, Anand, Gujarat, India Dabhi MR Assistant Professor (Ento.) Department of Agricultural Entomology, COA, AAU, Jabugam, Gujarat, India Vinod B Mor Assistant Professor (Agronomy), COA, AAU, Jabugam, Gujarat, India Correspondence Rohit Ramesh M. Sc. Student, Department of Agricultural Entomology, BACA, AAU, Anand, Gujarat, India Nanopesticides as emerging agri-chemical formulations for income maximization Rohit Ramesh, Dabhi MR and Vinod B Mor Abstract Pesticides denotes a wide range of agro-chemicals, those are extensively used in agriculture for protection of crops from diseases, pests and weeds. Pesticides are exploited both extensively and intensively to minimize these losses and around 3 billion tons of pesticides are employed for the same. The biggest hurdle that lead to the failure of these pesticides was the water-insolubility of these formulations. A new advent in this scenario is the nanopesticides which relies on the nano-sizing or the reduction of droplet size to a billionth, to enhance the surface area, activity and water solubility of the chemicals. Nanocapsules have shown controlled release and slow degradation of active ingredient (AI), making them more efficient in controlling plant disease and pests. They have the potential to revolutionize the agrochemical sector due to its superior physical and chemical properties, by virtue of which, it has better application in pest management strategies. These molecules might probably become the answer to the deleterious effects caused by the over-exploitation of pesticides. They can bring down the quantity of pesticides currently being used around the world for pest management methods, and thus restore the balance of ecosystem, at the same time, ensure food safety and food security. The combination of low efficiency and the environmental backlash of conventional pesticides like the environmental degradation, non-biodegradability, bio magnification, etc. makes the nanopesticides a safer alternative to the conventional formulations. Moreover, due to its higher efficiency, it is more cost- effective and thus reduces the expenditure on plant protection measures. Botanical insecticides associated with nanotechnology that are based on active agents isolated from plant extracts as well as essential oils are derived from certain plants. At a time when the conventional pesticides pose an immense threat to the quality of environment and the health of the organisms, more emphasize should be given on development of nano-formulation of pesticides, which proves to be more potent and selective over the conventional formulations. Though these formulations have not reported to cause any acute toxicity in the non-target organisms till date, more thrust should be given on this aspect to come up with ways to nullify the short comings before its ingression in agriculture. Keywords: nanopesticides, income maximization Introduction The term pesticide denotes a wide range of agro-chemicals, those are extensively used in agriculture for protection of crops from diseases, pests and weeds. These include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, molluscicides, nematicides, rodenticides, etc. Agricultural production constantly encounters high magnitude of losses due to various agents like insect pests, pathogens and weeds. It is estimated that the losses incurred world-wide by the insects, pathogens and weeds are about 40%. In monetary terms, it adds up to around 2000 billion dollar economic loss per year. Pesticides are exploited both extensively and intensively to minimize these losses and around 3 billion tons of pesticides are employed for the same (Peshin and Dhawan, 2009) [13] . Such indiscriminate use and misuse of pesticides have caused severe degradation of environment and associated organisms. The initial benefits derived from the usage of pesticides like higher pest control and productivity are now down-sized due to the inability of these to control the pests which they could control earlier. The reasons being development of resistance, ineffectiveness of formulations, and the impact on non-target organisms. Though alternatives were employed instead of synthetic pesticides, they failed to produce the same results. The biggest hurdles that lead to the failure of these pesticides were the water-insolubility of these formulations. Traditionally, these insoluble chemicals were applied as dusts, dissolved in organic solvents and or in organic based emulsions (EC). These methods proved to be inefficient, costly, involved indiscriminate dumping of pesticides in the environment.