Bioinoculants: A Step Towards Sustainable Agriculture

Developing countries, particularly those in the Indian subcontinent, are experiencing significant economic, agricultural, and industrial development. The primary objective of modern, mechanized agricultural practices is to increase crop yields to feed the rapidly growing population. As a result, there is an increased reliance on chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals. However, the high production costs of these chemical products place pressure on the countrys limited fossil fuel reserves. Bioinoculants, which include biofertilizers, biopesticides, and organic decomposers, are a more ecologically and economically sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Biofertilizers are live microbial cells that provide essential nutrients, promote plant growth, and enhance resistance to diseases, resulting in increased crop yields. Biopesticides are live microbial isolates or their metabolic byproducts that eliminate crop-damaging insects and pests. Organic decomposers, such as certain fungal species, bacterial genera, and actinomycetes, accelerate the decomposition of organic matter, releasing nutrients that are otherwise held as organic matter. Among the commercially available biopesticides, Bt cotton has emerged as the first ambassador for modern pesticides. Overall, bioinoculants offer a promising solution to the challenges faced by developing countries in terms of sustainable agriculture and food security.