1. AG 226_SA_LEISA_Class 1-2-3.pptx OUAT

Sustainable Agriculture

1. 1 AG 226 ( Farming Systems & Sustainable Agriculture ) Sustainable Agriculture Alok Kumar Patra Professor of Agronomy & Chief Agronomist, AICRP on IFS Mob: [phone] Email: [email protected] Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology Bhubaneswar

2. Sustainable Agriculture: Concepts In December 1983, the United Nations General Assembly established the World Commission on Environment and Development under the leadership of former Norwegian prime minister Harlem Brundtland . In 1987, the ‘ Brundtland Commission’ released its final report, Our Common Future . It was realised that after decades of effort to raise living standards through industrialisation, many countries were still dealing with extreme poverty. It seemed that economic development at the cost of ecological health and social equity did not lead to long-lasting prosperity. The document famously defines sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

3. Sustainable Agriculture: Concepts (cont.) The prime importance of staple food production for achieving food security for future generations has brought the concept of ‘ Sustainable Agriculture ’ to the forefront and began to take shape in the following three points. The interrelatedness of all the farming systems including the farmer and the family The importance of many biological balances in the system The needs to maximise desired biological relationships in the system and minimise the use of materials and practices that disrupt these relations

4. Sustainable Agriculture: Concepts (cont.) Sustainable agriculture is the use of farming systems and practices which maintain or enhance The economic viability of agricultural production; The natural resource base; and Other ecosystems which are influenced by agricultural activities.

5. Difference between sustainable and traditional agriculture Particulars Sustainable agriculture Traditional agriculture Plant nutrients Farm yard manures, compost, vermicompost , green manure, bio-fertiliser, and crop rotation Chemical fertilisers Pest control Cultural methods, crop rotation and biological methods Chemical pesticides Inputs High diversity, renewable and biodegradable inputs High productivity and low diversity Ecology Stable ecology Fragile ecology Use of resources Extraction of natural resources does not exceed the rate of regeneration Extraction exceeds regeneration, over-exploitation of natural resources Quality of produce Safe for human and animal consumption Presence of toxic residue, unsafe for consumption

6. Five Principles of Sustainable Agriculture (FAO) Principle 1: Improving efficiency in the use of resources is crucial to sustainable agriculture Principle 2: Sustainability requires direct action to conserve, protect and enhance natural resources Principle 3: Agriculture that fails to protect and improve rural livelihoods, equity and social well-being is unsustainable Principle 4: Enhanced resilience of people, communities and ecosystems is key to sustainable agriculture Principle 5: Sustainable food and agriculture requires responsible and effective governance mechanisms

7. Some widely accepted definitions of SA Agriculture is sustainable when it is ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just, culturally appropriate and based on a holistic scientific approach. The successful management of resources for agriculture to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining or enhancing the Natural resource-base and avoiding environmental degradation. A sustainable Agriculture is a system of agriculture that is committed to maintain and preserve the agriculture base of soil, water, and atmosphere ensuring future generations the capacity to feed themselves with an adequate supply of safe and wholesome food. A Sustainable Agriculture system is one that can indefinitely meet demands for food and fibre at socially acceptable, economic and environment cost.

8. Objectives of Sustainable Agriculture Make best use of the resources available Minimize use of non-renewable resources Protect the health and safety of farm workers, local communities and society Protect and enhance the environment and natural resources Protect the economic viability of farming operations Provide sufficient financial reward to the farmer to enable continued production and contribute to the well-being of the community Produce sufficient high-quality and safe food Build on available technology, knowledge and skills in ways that suit local conditions and capacity.

9. Goals of Sustainable Agriculture A more thorough incorporation of natural processes such as nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation and pest-predator relationships into agricultural production processes: A reduction in the use of those off-farm, external and nonrenewable inputs with the greatest potential to damage the environment or harm the health of farmers and consumers, and more targeted use of the remaining inputs used with a view to minimizing variable costs: The full participation of farmers and rural people in all processes of problem analysis and technology development, adoption and extension. A more equitable access to predictive resources and opportunities, and progress towards more socially just forms of Agriculture: A greater productive use of the biological and genetic potential of plant and animal species: A greater productive use of local knowledge and practices, including innovation in approaches not yet fully understood by scientists or widely adopted by farmers: An increase in self-reliance among farmers and rural people An improvement in the match between cropping patterns and the productive potential and environmental constraints of climate and landscape to ensure long-term sustainability of current production levels: and Profitable and efficient production with an emphasis on integrated farm management and the conservation of soil, water, energy and biological resources

10. Three Pillars of Sustainability Environmental sustainability ( Environmental concerns over adverse impacts of agriculture on land, water, and wildlife resources ) Economic sustainability ( Economic concerns over economic justice, the survival of owner operated farms, and the long-term profitability of agriculture ) Social sustainability ( Public welfare concerns over food quality and human exposure to toxic chemicals )

11. Advantages of Sustainable Agriculture Contributes to environmental conservation Saves energy for future Diversifies crops and farm products Increases self-reliance Public health safety Prevents pollution Prevents air pollution

12. Threats to Sustainable Agriculture Land degradation Water & its availability Deforstation Depletion of soil organic carbon Loss of biodiversity Genetically modified crops Climate change

13. Indicators of Sustainability Policy relevance - indicators should address the issues of primary concern to a country or district and receive the highest priority. In some cases policy makers may already share concern about an aspect of sustainability (e.g. land degradation) and be ready to use indicator information for addressing the issue.   Predictability - to allow a forward-looking perspective that can promote planning and decisions on issues before they become too severe. Anticipatory decision-making is at least as important to sustainable agriculture as is recognition of existing problems.   Measurability - to allow planners and analysts the means to assess how the indicator was derived, either qualitatively or quantitatively, and decide how it can best be applied in the planning and decision-making process.

14. Criteria for Selecting Indicators be easily measurable, be sensitive to stresses on the system, respond to stress in a predictable manner, be anticipatory, meaning that they signify an impending change in the ecological system, predict changes that can be averted by management actions, be integrative, meaning that the full suite of indicators provides a measure of coverage of the key gradients across the ecological systems (such as soils, vegetation types and temperature), have a known response to natural disturbances, anthropogenic stresses, and changes over time, and have low variability in response.

15. Framework for sustainability The most widely accepted framework for sustainability is referred to as Pressure/State/Response (PSR framework).   Pressure refers to the driving forces that create environmental impacts. They could include hillside farming, agro-industrial processing, livestock grazing, deforestation, etc. State refers to the condition(s) that prevail when a pressure exists. This could be for example declining yields, fish die-off or soil erosion, etc.   Response refers to the mitigation action(s) and levers that could be applied to reduce or eliminate the impacts

16. Operational indicators for measuring Agricultural Sustainability Economic Crop productivity Net farm income Benefit-cost ratio of production Per capita food grain production   Social Food self sufficiency Equality in income and food distribution Access to resources and support services Farmers, knowledge and awareness of resource conservation Ecological Amount of fertilizers / pesticides used per unit of cropped land Amount of irrigation water used per unit of cropped land Soil nutrient content Depth of groundwater table Quality of groundwater for irrigation Water use efficiency Nitrate content of groundwater and crops

17. Adaptation & Mitigation   Adaptation Adaptation may be defined as adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. Adaptation in agriculture is the norm rather than the exception. In addition to changes driven by several socio-economic factors (chiefly market conditions and policy frameworks), farmers always had to adapt to the vagaries of weather, on weekly, seasonal, annual and longer timescales. Mitigation Mitigation refers to technological change and substitution that reduce energy resource inputs and emissions per unit of output. Although several social, economic and technological policies would also lead to an emissions reduction, for climate change mitigation encompasses implementing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to enhance sinks.

18. Adaptation Strategies in Agriculture   Changing planting dates; Planting different varieties or crop species; Development and promotion of alternative crops; Developing new drought and heat-resistant varieties; More use of intercropping; Using sustainable fertilizer and tillage practices (soil drainage, no-till, etc) Improved crop residue and weed management; More use of water harvesting techniques, Better pest and disease control for crops; Implementing new or improving existing irrigation systems (Reducing water leakage, soil moisture conservation - mulching); Improved livestock management (Providing housing and shade, change to heat-tolerant breeds, change in stocking rate, altered grazing and rotation of pasture); More use of agroforestry practices; Development of early-warning systems and protection measures for natural disasters (droughts, floods, tropical cyclones, etc);

19. Mitigation Technologies in Agriculture   Improved crop and grazing land management to increase soil carbon storage; Restoration of cultivated peaty soils and degraded lands; Improved rice cultivation techniques and livestock and manure management to reduce CH 4 emissions; Improved nitrogen fertilizer application techniques to reduce N 2 O emissions; Dedicated energy crops to replace fossil fuel use; Improved energy efficiency. A large proportion of the mitigation potential of agriculture (excluding bioenergy ) arises from soil carbon sequestration, which has strong synergies with sustainable agriculture and generally reduces vulnerability to climate change Considerable mitigation potential is also available from reductions in methane and nitrous oxide emissions in some agricultural systems Biomass from agricultural residues and dedicated energy crops can be an important bio-energy feedstock, but current concerns with food prices make this a questionable alternative.

20. Mitigation Technologies in Agriculture ( National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, 2010 )   Improved crop seeds, livestock and fish cultures Water use efficiency Pest management Improved agronomic practices Nutrient management Agricultural insurance Credit support Markets Access to information Livelihood diversification

21. SDG Indicator 2.4.1   FAO has set the following five key principles to achieve the sustainable development goals. Increase productivity, employment and value addition in food systems Protect and enhance natural resources Improve livelihoods and foster inclusive economic growth Enhance the resilience of people, communities and ecosystems Adapt governance to new challenges

22. SDG Indicator 2.4.1 (cont.)   In September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Development Agenda and an associated 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The resultant SDGs are accompanied by 169 targets under the various goals and a set of 232 indicators to monitor progress toward the SDGs. Responsibility for the development of indicators is given to the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) which established an Inter-Agency Expert Group for SDG indicators (IAEG-SDG). Under the auspices of the IAEG-SDG, various agencies were given custodianship for the finalisation of the appropriate indicators for the different SDG targets. FAO was given custodianship of 21 indicators across six SDGs (FAO, 2019).

23. SDG Indicator 2.4.1 (cont.)   SDG 2.4.1 is a set of tools used to measure concrete progress towards the achievement of SDG Target 2.4 , one of eight targets under SDG 2, i.e., ‘end hunger; achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’. Specifically, Target 2.4 aims at ‘by 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality’ (FAO, 2019).

24. Assignment - I To be submitted by Mid-term Hand-written, not printed / DTP   Sustainable Development Goals with a focus on SDG Indicator 2.4.1

25. Class III AG 226 Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture Alok Kumar Patra Mob: [phone] Email: [email protected]

26. Contents Several benefits of high external input agriculture On long-run HEIA developed serious threats mostly on ecological and environmental issues Basic principle of LEISA Characteristics of HEIA and LEISA Criteria for LEISA Basic Ecological Principles of LEISA Promising LEISA Techniques and Practices Constraints for Adoption of LEISA  

27. Benefits of HEIA Many problems related to diseases caused by mal-nutrition and deficiencies can be effectively managed New improved varieties give yields within a short period of time Mechanisation solves the problem of labour shortage Income and profit margins of the products may be increased Productivity of land is improved A market facility for production is increased

28. On long-run HEIA developed serious threats mostly on ecological and environmental issues The environmental balance is collapsed due to lack of biodiversity by planting a few cash crops. Soil erosion is increased due to constant furrowing by machinery. Dependence on imported machinery, chemical fertiliser , pesticides, hybrid seeds and other inputs is increased. Extensive use of pesticides disturbs the natural mechanism of controlling pest and diseases as the artificial pesticides kill both pests and their natural enemies. Use of agrochemicals adversely affects the soil p H, cation exchange capacity, soil structure, soil texture and soil organisms that consequently lead to reduced microbial activities in the soil. The large farmers get benefited with high capital investment while small-scale farmers who were short of capital run into debt. Traditional varieties of seeds and their genetic resources face extinction due to introduction of hybrids. Conventional agricultural knowledge and techniques are neglected and extinguished.

29. LEISA mostly rely on thee 4 basic principles Securing favourable soil conditions for plant growth particularly managing organic matter and enhancing soil life, Optimizing the nutrient availability and balancing the nutrient flow, particularly by means of nitrogen fixation, nutrient acquisition and complementary use of external fertilizers, Minimizing the losses due to plant and animal pests by means of prevention and safety treatment, Minimizing losses due to flows of solar radiation, air, water by way of microclimate management, water management and erosion control.

30. Characteristics of HEIA and LEISA   Characteristics of HEIA Characteristics of LEISA 1 The farming pattern depends heavily on external and chemical inputs. Although yields have increased substantially, contributing to raising total production, farmers and the environment have had to pay the price for keeping up with this development. LEISA relies on the optimal use of natural processes. 2 The focus of agricultural development and research has mainly been on maximising yields coupled with increasing specialisation of production. The focus is on the sustainability of farming system. 3 There is a great damage to the environment. This is environmentally sound and has the potential to contribute to the long-term sustainability of agriculture. 4 The continuing drop in prices of farm produce and the rising costs of agricultural inputs make farming increasingly unprofitable. LEISA puts greater emphasis is on the long-term sustenance and promotes a balance between the profit and livelihood. 5 HEIA depends on the higher production and profit, without consideration of the local needs and local market. Sustainable ecological practices depend largely on local agroecological conditions and on local socioeconomic circumstances, as well as on farmers’ individual needs and aspirations. 6 Primarily one or two commodity driven development, lack of diversity in the farming practices; as a result, there is greater risk of failure and price fluctuation. The number of products and commodities are very less. One way of LEISA is to diversification of farms; with a range of crops and/or animals, farmers will suffer less from price fluctuations or drops in yield of single crops. Maintaining diversity will also provide a farm family with a range of products to eat or sell throughout a large part of the year. 7 Under HEIA system, soil quality deteriorates, and there is resurgence of pests, lack of resilience in the soil-plant system. LEISA maintains a healthy soil, recycling nutrients on the farm, and utilising approaches such as integrated pest management. 8 In HEIA, there is lack of use of indigenous technologies. Best technologies, for example, soil and water conservation (terraces, ditches, and vegetation strips on sloping land), better timing of operations, improved crop spacing and densities, manure or compost and water application based on local conditions are used to increase the productivity.

31. Criteria for LEISA Ecological criteria Balanced use of nutrients and organic matter Efficient use of water resources Diversity of genetic resources Efficient use of energy sources Minimal negative environmental effects Minimal use of external inputs

32. Criteria for LEISA (cont.) Economic criteria Sustained farmer livelihood systems Competitiveness Efficient use of production factors Low relative value of external inputs

33. Criteria for LEISA (cont.) Social criteria Wide-spread and equitable adoption potential, especially among small farmers Reduced dependency on external institutions Enhanced food security at the family and national level Respecting and building on indigenous knowledge, beliefs and value systems Contribution to employment generation

34. Basic Ecological Principles of LEISA A living soil Biological diversity Water Energy Exploiting Animal-Plant Interaction Towards Local Resources-based Integrated Crop- Livestock Systems

35. Promising LEISA Techniques and Practices   Nutrient management Integrated pest management Crop Residue Management and Conservation Tillage Converting Farm Wastes into useful Organic Manure under LEISA System Green Manuring & Cover crops Preventing Land Degradation Intercropping Organic Manuring Mulching Windbreaks Water Harvesting In-situ Water Conservation through various Land Configurations

36. Constraints for Adoption of LEISA   Reduced production and rehabilitation period Labour requirement Land ownership Gender biasness Partnership Technology Development approach Government policies Information dissemination

37. Thank You