SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND MODERN FARMING PRACTICES

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: CONCEPT AND MEANING

• Sustainable Agriculture is an integrated system of plant and animal production.
• It is site-specific and long-term oriented.
• Main objectives:
  - To satisfy human food and fibre needs.
  - To enhance environmental quality and natural resource base.
  - To ensure efficient use of non-renewable and on-farm resources.
  - To sustain economic viability of farm operations.
  - To improve quality of life of farmers and society.
• In simple words, it means:
  - Producing enough food today
  - Without destroying the capacity of future generations to produce food.

DIFFERENT METHODS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

1. CROP ROTATION

• Meaning:
  - Growing different crops one after another in a fixed sequence on the same land.
• Why needed:
  - Same crop every year removes same nutrients from soil.
  - Pests and diseases become permanent if same crop is grown.
• Advantages:
  - Breaks pest and disease cycle.
  - Maintains soil fertility.
  - Improves nutrient uptake.
  - Prevents monoculture problems.
• Important practice:
  - After cereals, legumes (pulses) are grown because they fix nitrogen.
• Rotation period:
  - May be one year or more than one year depending on region.
• Crop selection depends on:
  - Soil condition
  - Climate
  - Farmer’s experience

2. ORGANIC FARMING

• Meaning:
  - Farming without chemical fertilizers, pesticides and growth regulators.
• Origin:
  - Gained popularity in 1970s due to environmental awareness.
• Methods used:
  - Crop rotation
  - Green manure
  - Animal waste
  - Crop residues
  - Biological pest control
• Benefits:
  - Improves soil health
  - Reduces pollution
  - Ensures sustainability
  - Reduces long-term cost
• Limitations:
  - Low yield in initial years
  - More labour required
  - Pest and disease attack may increase
  - Certification and marketing are complex
• Organic farming in India:
  - Top states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra
  - Sikkim is India’s first fully organic state
  - Major exports: oilseeds, cereals, tea, coffee, spices, dried fruits

3. CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

• Meaning:
  - Resource-saving farming system based on natural processes.
• Main principles:
  - Permanent soil cover using crop residues
  - Minimum tillage
  - Crop rotation
• Practices:
  - No burning of residues
  - Integrated pest management
  - Limited machine movement
• Advantages:
  - Reduces soil erosion
  - Improves soil organic matter
  - Improves water retention
  - Protects soil organisms
  - Reduces crop failure risk
• Limitations:
  - High initial cost of machines
  - Requires training and patience
  - Benefits visible after some years

4. AGROFORESTRY

• Meaning:
  - Growing trees and crops together on same land.
• Importance:
  - Very useful in dry and semi-arid regions.
• Benefits:
  - Prevents soil erosion
  - Improves microclimate
  - Reduces runoff
  - Provides fuel, fodder, fruits, fibre, etc.
  - Helps in climate change mitigation
• Major agroforestry systems in India:
  - Home gardens
  - Alley cropping
  - Taungya system
  - Windbreaks
• Advantages:
  - Carbon sequestration
  - Soil fertility improvement
  - Biodiversity conservation
• Disadvantages:
  - Labour intensive
  - Long waiting time
  - Competition for resources
  - Requires technical knowledge

5. PERMACULTURE

• Coined by Bill Mollison in 1970s.
• Meaning:
  - A self-sustaining, cyclic farming system.
• Principle:
  - Whatever is taken from nature must be returned.
• Features:
  - Integration of plants, animals and humans
  - Recycling of waste
  - Composting is very important
• Advantages:
  - Reduces pollution
  - Efficient resource use
  - Uses renewable energy
• Disadvantages:
  - Labour intensive
  - Pest problem
  - Lack of awareness

6. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

• Meaning:
  - Ecosystem-based strategy for long-term pest control.
• Pests include:
  - Weeds, insects, rodents, fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc.
• Methods used:
  - Biological control: using natural enemies
  - Cultural control: crop rotation, intercropping, ploughing, etc.
  - Mechanical control: traps, barriers
  - Physical control: mulching, steam sterilization
  - Chemical control: pesticides used only when necessary
• Objective:
  - Reduce pest damage with minimum harm to environment.

7. DRYLAND FARMING

• Practised in areas with less than 75 cm rainfall.
• Regions:
  - Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• Crops:
  - Millets, pulses, drought-resistant crops.
• Advantages:
  - Conserves soil moisture
  - Promotes water conservation
• Challenges:
  - Very low and uncertain yields
  - Frequent crop failure

8. WETLAND FARMING

• Practised in high rainfall regions.
• Areas:
  - River plains, North-East India, Western Ghats.
• Crops:
  - Rice, sugarcane, jute, cotton.

9. TERRACE CULTIVATION

• Practised on hill slopes by making steps or terraces.
• Advantages:
  - Reduces soil erosion
  - Stores rainwater
• Disadvantages:
  - Waterlogging if excess rain occurs

10. PRECISION FARMING

• Meaning:
  - Use of IT and technology for exact input use.
• Objective:
  - Right input, right place, right time.
• Advantages:
  - Increases productivity
  - Saves water and chemicals
  - Prevents soil degradation
• Disadvantages:
  - High initial cost
  - Lack of trained manpower

11. INTERCROPPING

• Meaning:
  - Growing two or more crops on same field.
• Types:
  - Mixed intercropping
  - Row intercropping
  - Temporal intercropping
  - Relay intercropping
  - Strip intercropping
• Advantages:
  - Better use of resources
  - Reduces pest attack
  - Improves soil fertility
  - Reduces soil erosion
• Disadvantages:
  - Difficult mechanization
  - More management required

12. VERMICOMPOSTING

• Meaning:
  - Compost made using earthworms.
• Earthworms convert waste into nutrient-rich vermicast.
• Advantages:
  - Improves soil structure
  - Increases fertility
  - Enhances plant growth
• Disadvantages:
  - Time consuming
  - Needs careful maintenance
  - Can attract pests

13. TRAP CROPPING

• Meaning:
  - Growing special plants to attract pests away from main crop.
• Examples:
  - Okra in cotton
  - Marigold in vegetables
  - Sesamum in cabbage
• Limitation:
  - Pest population may increase on trap crop.

14. VERTICAL FARMING

• Meaning:
  - Growing crops in vertical layers under controlled environment.
• Uses:
  - Hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics.
• Advantages:
  - Less water use
  - Year-round production
  - High productivity
• Disadvantages:
  - Very costly
  - Needs artificial light

15. TILLAGE AND ZERO TILLAGE

• Tillage means land preparation by ploughing.
• Zero tillage means sowing seeds without ploughing.
• Advantages of zero tillage:
  - Reduces soil erosion
  - Saves water
  - Saves cost
  - Improves soil organic matter
  - Reduces carbon emission
• Disadvantages:
  - High machine cost initially

16. DRIP IRRIGATION

• Meaning:
  - Water is given drop by drop near roots.
• Advantages:
  - Saves up to 70% water
  - Increases fertilizer efficiency
  - Suitable for dry and hilly areas
• Disadvantages:
  - Salt accumulation
  - Plastic pollution
  - High maintenance

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Subject: Geography

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