Nano 2026

Agriculture remains a major source of livelihood, employment and food supply in North-Eastern Nigeria. However, agricultural production in the region is constrained by declining soil fertility, climate variability, drought, water scarcity, pest and disease infestation, inefficient application of agricultural inputs and post-harvest losses. These challenges have created a need for innovative technologies capable of improving agricultural productivity while reducing pressure on natural resources. Nanotechnology has emerged as one of the promising technologies with potential applications in modern agriculture. Its applications include nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanosensors, nano-enabled water treatment, seed treatment, soil remediation, precision agriculture and post-harvest management. This conference paper examines the application of nanotechnology in modern agriculture, with particular attention to its potential relevance to North-Eastern Nigeria. The paper adopts a descriptive literature-review approach based on recent scholarly publications. Evidence from the literature indicates that nanotechnology can improve nutrient-use efficiency, facilitate controlled delivery of fertilizers and pesticides, support precision agriculture and improve plant tolerance to environmental stresses (Usman et al., 2020; Vaidya et al., 2024). Recent African evidence further indicates that agro-nanotechnology has potential for improving nutrient management, soil health and crop productivity, although adoption remains limited by inadequate technical expertise, research infrastructure, supportive policies and regulatory systems (Gelaye, 2025). The paper concludes that nanotechnology could contribute to sustainable and climate-smart agriculture in North-Eastern Nigeria if it is introduced through locally relevant research, appropriate regulation, farmer education, affordability and comprehensive environmental and health-risk assessment.

Aliyu Atiku Zainab is an academic and researcher in the field of Agricultural Science Education, affiliated with the Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, Yobe State, Nigeria. Her research interests include agricultural extension education, farmer field school programmes, educational development, and student participation in higher education. She has contributed to research examining the implementation and effectiveness of agricultural education programmes and has co-authored studies published in academic outlets.