SUSTAINABLE FARMING

BY: ABHINIT KANTH UPVAN YADAV SAURAV RAJ

Sustainable Farming
Meet present needs without compromising future demands. Stewardship of both natural and human resources are of prime importance. This will achieve the best use of natures goods and services as functional inputs.

Why Sustainable Farming?

Demand drivers Population growth: 9 billion people in 2050 Urbanization: 2010 = 52% urban; 2050 = 78% urban Income growth Biofuels and bioenergy Conservation and biodiversity

Supply drivers Water and land scarcity Climate change Investment in agricultural research Science and technology policy Management and governance reform

Goals OF Sustainable Farming

Environmental Health- Things such as land quality. Economic Profitability You need to be able to sustain profits. Social and Economic Equity- The community has to be sustained without inequity.

Cont
Minimize adverse impacts to the immediate and off-farm environments Sustainability must be extended not only globally, but indefinitely in time, and to all living organisms including humans.

To produce food indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health.

Organic Farming
Renewable Resources Soil and Water Conservation Farming practices that enhance ecological balance.

Agricultural Technologies
Potential to improve: Agricultural production & consumption Food security Trade Environmental quality Polarized debate on high intensity vs. low input Lack of understanding of the impacts of specific technologies at a disaggregated level.

Traditional Methods
Water harvesting and rainfall. Today 80% of crop production worldwide relies on rainfall
Crop Rotation Natural Fertilizers Raised Fields Terraces Irrigation Canals Swamps/Lakes Home Gardens Tree Culture

Todays Method
crop rotations that mitigate weeds, disease, insect and other pest problems pest control strategies that are not harmful to natural systems or people, which include techniques that reduce the need for pesticides increased mechanical/biological weed control. soil and water conservation practices. strategic use of animal and green manures. use of natural or synthetic inputs in a way that poses no significant hazard to man, animals, or the environment.

Technology Assessment Scope

Three Crops Wheat Rice Maize Zero Tillage Integrated Soil Fertility Management Irrigation Technologies Water Harvesting Drought Tolerance Heat tolerance Nitrogen Use Efficiency Precision Agriculture Laser Land Leveling Organic Agriculture

Management Scenario
Baseline Site-specific baseline inorganic fertilizer application rate For maize, location-specific yield discount factor due to unmanaged pest damage where Bt maize is not adopted Furrow irrigation, where irrigation is adopted Sub-optimal planting density & sub-optimal planting window Conventional tillage Representative varieties for latitude x altitude zones Technology scenarios Specific representation of each technology Area of adoption in 2050 depends on technology Climate change scenario in 2050 MIROC A1B (without CO2 fertilization)

Conclusions
Agricultural technology investmentsincluding both advanced and traditional technologies/management practices are a game changer in terms of yield improvements and national and global food security We now can model disaggregated/locale-specific technology impacts While biophysical potential often exists to significantly increase yields, institutions, governance systems, political will, and poor rural infrastructure remain obstacles to achieving thefull technological potential

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