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
