Frontiers of Technology, Natural Resources and Sustainable Growth

The technological change and productivity growth in agriculture in the last four decades have caused huge stress on natural resources. The growth in agricultural production could be achieved largely banking on ground water extraction. In most of the states of India, the rate of depletion of ground water is very high and in some states, it has crossed the limits permissible by nature. Actually shortage of water and degradation of soil are going to be serious constraints to future growth. This chapter suggests that instead of searching for supply side solution to the problems of resource constraints, we need to apply appropriate technologies so that demand for water in agricultural production decline and the productivity of water increases. It shows that side by side with efficient management and proper utilization of surface water, emphasis should be given on efficient irrigation technology, dryland farming and cultivation of water-saving crops. This chapter has shown that the frontiers of technology are going to play very important role in resource management and agricultural growth. Biotechnology has great promises for future growth in agriculture. Nano technology, information technology, geographic and information science (GIS), remote sensing and irrigation technology will take very important role in future growth of agriculture.