CHAPTER 6: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Definition

'Farming systems that are capable of maintaining their productivity to society indefinitely without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health'

In simplest terms, sustainable agriculture is the production of food, fiber, or other plant or animal products by using farming techniques that protect the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare. This form of agriculture enables us to produce healthful food without compromising future generations' ability to do the same.

Crop yields remaining stagnant, pesticides polluting the eco-systems, increasing cost of fertilizers, reducing soil fertility, imbalance in host - parasite and predator - parasite relationships have pushed agriculture into dangerous mode. Scientists have looked back into the technologies evolved and used to increase the crop yields. Long term projections have indicated that agriculture is pushing itself towards stagnation with severe damage to eco-systems.

Hence, in recent years a concept of sustainable agriculture is developed in order to ensure that the agro-eco-systems are stabilized and sustained crop yields are assured on long term basis.

Sustainable agriculture refers to agriculture - where the agro-eco-systems function on self sustianing basis of nutrient supply and crop protection in order to stabilize the crop yields.

Sustainable agriculture involves practices such as organic farming, biological and natural control of pests, emphasis of watershed approach to conserve the soil and water, buildup of microflora in close harmony with beneficial soil - inhabitants and complete desisting the use of synthetic chemicals.

It is sustainable agriculture - which ensures pollution free food production and which ensures continuation of agriculture with least damage to eco-system.

The primary benefits of sustainable agriculture are:

• Environmental Preservation
• Protection of Public Health 
• Sustaining Vibrant Communities 
• Upholding Animal Welfare

3 MAIN GOALS 

• Achieves the integration of natural biological cycles and controls
• Protects and renews soil fertility and the natural resource base
• Optimizes the management and use of on-farm resources
• Reduces the use of non-renewable resources and purchased production inputs

• Provides an adequate and dependable form of income
• Promotes opportunity in family farming and farm communities 

Sustainable agriculture practices

Here are some examples of sustainable practices:

Rotating crops and embracing diversity

Planting variety of crops can have many benefits, including healthier soil and improved pest control. Crop diversity practices include intercropping (growing a mix of crops in the same area) and complex multi-year crop rotations.

Planting cover crops

Cover crops, like clover or hairy vetch, are planted during off-season times when soils might otherwise be left bare. These crops protect and build soil health by preventing erosion, replenishing soil nutrients, and keeping weeds in check, reducing the need for herbicides.

Reducing or eliminating tillage

Traditional plowing (tillage) prepares fields for planting and prevents weed problems, but can cause a lot of soil loss. No-till or reduced till methods, which involve inserting seeds directly into undisturbed soil, can reduce erosion and improve soil health.

Applying integrated pest management (IPM)

A range of methods, including mechanical and biological controls, can be applied systematically to keep pest populations under control while minimizing use of chemical pesticides.

Integrated livestock and crops

Indusrial agriculture tends to keep plant and animal production separate, with animals living far from the areas where their feed is produced, and crops growing far away from abundant manure fertilizers. A growing body of evidence shows that a smart integration of crop and animal production can be  recipe for more efficient, profitable farms.

Adopting agroforestry practices

By mixing trees or shrubs into their operations, farmers can provide shade and shelter to protect plants, animals, and water resources, while also potentionally offering additional income.

Managing whole system and landscapes

Sustainable farms treat uncultivated or less intensively cultivated areas, sush as riparian buffers or prairie strips, as integral to the farm - valued for their role in controlling erosion, reducing nutrient runoff, and supporting pollinators and other biodiversity.


A key theme connecting many of these practices is diversification. "Keep it simple" is good advice in many situations, but when it comes to agriculture, the most sustainable and productive systems are more diverse and complex - like nature itself.