THE LONG ROAD TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is all about food and culture, food is life, hence the production needs celebration not death. General belief that drier area means “waste”, can’t do anything in the drier areas, if minds create a heaven in such category of land. Dry lands occupy more than 70% of the cultivated area in the country. These dry land areas experience instability in food production besides acute shortage of fodder and fuel wood. The current agricultural practices are unsustainable, leads to agrochemical pollution, top soil loss, loss of biodiversity, depleting aquifers and deforestation etc, while working towards achieving higher economic profit and conservation of natural resource. Increasing shortage of fodder, fuel and food is a matter of great concern for rural India. We need to supply 250 million cubic meter of fuel wood and 1500 million tonnes of fodder annually but the estimated production will not even meet 40 % of the present demand. Present food grain production is just 204 million tones, but demand is for more than 250 million tones. These production levels have to be achieved only with the existing land and water resources, we neither have additional unutilized land nor can we increase the number of irrigation projects. In India around 12 billion tonnes of top soil and 8 to 9 million tonnes of mineral nutrients loss every year due to soil erosion, this will lead to depletion of fertility and agriculture productivity, thus directly affecting the economy and indirectly by silting of the tanks and flooding of rivers. A look at the management of the natural resources indicates that the present level of food production itself is under severe threat from natural calamities.
Agriculture is all about food and culture, food is life, hence the production needs celebration not death. General belief that drier area means “waste”, can’t do anything in the drier areas, if minds create a heaven in such category of land. Dry lands occupy more than 70% of the cultivated area in the country. These dry land areas experience instability in food production besides acute shortage of fodder and fuel wood. The current agricultural practices are unsustainable, leads to agrochemical pollution, top soil loss, loss of biodiversity, depleting aquifers and deforestation etc, while working towards achieving higher economic profit and conservation of natural resource. Increasing shortage of fodder, fuel and food is a matter of great concern for rural India. We need to supply 250 million cubic meter of fuel wood and 1500 million tonnes of fodder annually but the estimated production will not even meet 40 % of the present demand. Present food grain production is just 204 million tones, but demand is for more than 250 million tones. These production levels have to be achieved only with the existing land and water resources, we neither have additional unutilized land nor can we increase the number of irrigation projects. In India around 12 billion tonnes of top soil and 8 to 9 million tonnes of mineral nutrients loss every year due to soil erosion, this will lead to depletion of fertility and agriculture productivity, thus directly affecting the economy and indirectly by silting of the tanks and flooding of rivers. A look at the management of the natural resources indicates that the present level of food production itself is under severe threat from natural calamities.
Land use systems in dry lands often come to the rescue of the marginal farmer by meeting his food, fuel, fodder and timber requirements. It is a traditional practice in India that has been receiving great emphasis in recent years as a sustainable land use option of high potential. Adoption of sustainable agriculture practices is yet to become widespread. Lack of information and support are the constraints in successful implementation of the programme. It is a potentially productive programme which can generate durable resources of productive national assets for sustainable economic growth and conservation of natural resource. We must do everything that is humanly possible to save our forest and environment, which provides the life-support systems. Agro forestry movement can be used as an effective means for rapid greening under this programme.
Sustainable agriculture is a potential land use system to support food, fuel, fodder, timber, green manure, medicine and flower production and to increase the socio-economic status of the rural poor. Sustainable agriculture module is the best alternative technology to address dry land development. It has three major objectives such as environmental health, economical profitable and equity. It addresses the issues like climate change and food security and maintains bio-diversity. There is a need to motivate the farmers to adopt sustainable agriculture technology in their lands.
While considering all these things in mind Sustainable agriculture is the best alternative tool for rural India, with these systems to conserve natural resource like soil, water, bio-diversity, air and climate. We can increase food, fodder, fuel and timber in our own land and reduce the pressure or sustain the pressure on forest resource.
The following are the brief guide of solutions for a sustainable model for dry land agriculture involves;
Dry land horticulture: promotion of fruit crops in dry lands along with other agricultural crops, it includes species such as Mango, Tamarind, Cashew, Amla, Crusted apple and Sapota
Mixed cropping systems: growing different agriculture crops in the same piece of land in a specific period, thus enhance the biodiversity of the agriculture land, including several species of cereals, pulses, oil seeds and fodder crops
Soil and Water conservation: rainfall is the major source of water; maintenance of sub-soil moisture for longer period can stimulate and promote living microbes in the soil. Measures to conserve soil and water such as trench-cum-bund along the contour, drainage line treatments, plantation of mixed silvi and fruit trees and excavation of farm pond.
Apiculture: it is one of the subsidiary income generation activities, it provides base for higher agriculture production through proper pollination.
Composting: it is also one of the subsidiary income generation activities, maintaining sustainable yields it is very essential to maintain soil health soil fertility. Different composting techniques like Vermi composting, NADEPP system, Pit system and Heap system.
Live stock: it is part of agriculture; it provides cash and food for family, draught power and manure for the requirements on their own farm land.
Fodder development: it can be substituted on bunds and waste lands, it provides good nutrition support to the different livestock
Integrated pest management: means to use different methods to effectively control pest to minimize the loss and optimize the returns from the crops. It favours greater use of all eco-friendly practices such as natural pesticide, prey and predator use, bio-control agents and special cultural practices.
Traditional practices: there are different traditional practices in India; these practices include seed selection, collection and preservation, cultural practices, different agricultural implements and animal husbandry methods.
Constraints for long road
Marginal farmers are facing different problems on sustainable agriculture, in my experience these are the following problems
Planting stock: “As you sow as you reap”, seeds alone determine the productions, planting materials such as grafts, seedlings and seeds are not easily available within in the reasonable distance and cost
Land holding: Small and marginal farmers hesitate to promote permanent development in their own land, no clear title to the ownership of the land, land dispute among the family and government
Social context: “Unity will always cherish”, Small and marginal farmers are wage-earners for livelihood don’t have time and resource to adapt sustainable agriculture. Take long time to mature for harvesting of crops hence farmers hesitate to wait that long. Adjacent farmers object to planting trees on their side of the boundaries for fear of shading their crops and Stray cattle and wild animals menace during cropping period
Legal issues: Lack of information / extension about the systems, Lack of legal advocacy in promoting systems
The following are the brief guide of solutions for a sustainable model for dry land agriculture involves;
Dry land horticulture: promotion of fruit crops in dry lands along with other agricultural crops, it includes species such as Mango, Tamarind, Cashew, Amla, Crusted apple and Sapota
Mixed cropping systems: growing different agriculture crops in the same piece of land in a specific period, thus enhance the biodiversity of the agriculture land, including several species of cereals, pulses, oil seeds and fodder crops
Soil and Water conservation: rainfall is the major source of water; maintenance of sub-soil moisture for longer period can stimulate and promote living microbes in the soil. Measures to conserve soil and water such as trench-cum-bund along the contour, drainage line treatments, plantation of mixed silvi and fruit trees and excavation of farm pond.
Apiculture: it is one of the subsidiary income generation activities, it provides base for higher agriculture production through proper pollination.
Composting: it is also one of the subsidiary income generation activities, maintaining sustainable yields it is very essential to maintain soil health soil fertility. Different composting techniques like Vermi composting, NADEPP system, Pit system and Heap system.
Live stock: it is part of agriculture; it provides cash and food for family, draught power and manure for the requirements on their own farm land.
Fodder development: it can be substituted on bunds and waste lands, it provides good nutrition support to the different livestock
Integrated pest management: means to use different methods to effectively control pest to minimize the loss and optimize the returns from the crops. It favours greater use of all eco-friendly practices such as natural pesticide, prey and predator use, bio-control agents and special cultural practices.
Traditional practices: there are different traditional practices in India; these practices include seed selection, collection and preservation, cultural practices, different agricultural implements and animal husbandry methods.
Constraints for long road
Marginal farmers are facing different problems on sustainable agriculture, in my experience these are the following problems
Planting stock: “As you sow as you reap”, seeds alone determine the productions, planting materials such as grafts, seedlings and seeds are not easily available within in the reasonable distance and cost
Land holding: Small and marginal farmers hesitate to promote permanent development in their own land, no clear title to the ownership of the land, land dispute among the family and government
Social context: “Unity will always cherish”, Small and marginal farmers are wage-earners for livelihood don’t have time and resource to adapt sustainable agriculture. Take long time to mature for harvesting of crops hence farmers hesitate to wait that long. Adjacent farmers object to planting trees on their side of the boundaries for fear of shading their crops and Stray cattle and wild animals menace during cropping period
Legal issues: Lack of information / extension about the systems, Lack of legal advocacy in promoting systems
Smoothening the track
The conclusions are based on my experience, but integration of eco-friendly various income generation components in the farm land could be the best alternative methods to lead a sustainable life, Backward and Forward linkages with various line department and other organizations in implementing and monitoring the systems. Local institutions/bodies such as Gram sabha, Village Panchayat, NGO’s, Youth clubs, SHG’s, Village Forest Committee and Eco clubs should be involved in promoting systems through meetings, discussions, demos, film shows, exhibitions and individual contacts. Promoting cooperative seed / grain banks in all villages, farmers should get immediate and good region specific seeds with nominal cash or non-cash basis. Formation of apex bodies / federations should be encouraged to establish systems in large scale and to undertake organized processing and marketing of the farm out-put. Demonstration of sustainable agriculture plots should be established regionally to train and motivate farmers. Farmers should take initiatives and adopt soil and water conservation methodologies in their land and government should give technology and support. Extension efforts should highlight the overall benefits of the systems; organize farmers’ interactions, exposure trips and capacity building programmes to increase their moral and technical strength. Planting material and other inputs should available at village level; farmers should produce some of the inputs in their farm such as Vermi-compost, tank silt, bio-pesticides, grafts and seedlings
Manjunath H
The conclusions are based on my experience, but integration of eco-friendly various income generation components in the farm land could be the best alternative methods to lead a sustainable life, Backward and Forward linkages with various line department and other organizations in implementing and monitoring the systems. Local institutions/bodies such as Gram sabha, Village Panchayat, NGO’s, Youth clubs, SHG’s, Village Forest Committee and Eco clubs should be involved in promoting systems through meetings, discussions, demos, film shows, exhibitions and individual contacts. Promoting cooperative seed / grain banks in all villages, farmers should get immediate and good region specific seeds with nominal cash or non-cash basis. Formation of apex bodies / federations should be encouraged to establish systems in large scale and to undertake organized processing and marketing of the farm out-put. Demonstration of sustainable agriculture plots should be established regionally to train and motivate farmers. Farmers should take initiatives and adopt soil and water conservation methodologies in their land and government should give technology and support. Extension efforts should highlight the overall benefits of the systems; organize farmers’ interactions, exposure trips and capacity building programmes to increase their moral and technical strength. Planting material and other inputs should available at village level; farmers should produce some of the inputs in their farm such as Vermi-compost, tank silt, bio-pesticides, grafts and seedlings
Manjunath H
Dear Sir
ReplyDeleteSanthosh here
Your saying 250 mill cu m of fuel wood is needed eveyr year. then what is the solution for their fuel wood demand? in which their immediate livelihood depends on it.
Still there is a gap between demand and supply. immediate solution is to go for agro-forestry system. People should not depend on forest for their fuelwood. In way people have option of livelihood.
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