Sustainable Agriculture

What is the issue?

Climate change challenge and dependence of our population on agriculture necessitates a look at the options of sustainable agriculture.

What are the issues?

• Land degradation - According to ICAR’s reports, 37% of India’s total geographical area is affected with degradation.
• This is despite the big amount of fiscal budget being spent on defending soil even as we lose it to rain and wind.
• Water degradation - Only about 47.6% of the net sown area is irrigated.
• Groundwater, which accounts for almost 60% of the irrigated area, is under severe strain with depletion of the water table and deterioration of water quality.
• Subsidies for electricity consumed in agriculture have led to wasteful use of both energy and groundwater.
• Due to increasing population growth and industrialisation, the availability of water to agriculture is expected to fall in the coming decades.
• Climate Change Risks - Adverse climate change could lead to drop in yield and lower quality produce.
• It also poses a risk of increasing incidence of attacks by pests and insects.

What are the measures to be taken?

Sustainable agriculture inititatives-

• Water conservation and irrigation
• Watershed development and management
• Rainwater harvesting
• Construction of check dams, farm ponds, etc
• Irrigation-efficient technology such as drip and sprinkler systems
• Sustainable crop patterns from the water-usage point of view
• Soil conservation
• Large-scale afforestation
• Commercial forestry, Farm forestry, Social forestry
• Captive plantation
• Community-based forest management practices
• Mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change

Climate smart agricultural practices –

• Using renewable sources such as bio fuels and solar
• Nitrogen-smart nutrient management
• Organic farming
• Carbon smart practices (agro-forestry, horticulture, livestock management)
• Weather smart extension services (ICT-based agro advisories), etc

What are the government initiatives?

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayee Yojana -  for irrigation and water use efficiency.
• Micro Irrigation Fund - focuses on “more crop per drop”
• Long Term Irrigation Fund - to bring an additional land area under irrigation.
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana - It incentivises States to draw up plans for their agriculture sector more comprehensively taking agro-climatic conditions, natural resource issues and technology into account.
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana – It is a comprehensive insurance scheme that covers the damage caused by natural calamities.
• Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund - to reduce the dependence of farmers on agriculture and provide other allied options.
• Rural Infrastructure Development Fund - to provide for rural India’s infrastructure requirement.

Source: BusinessLine