What is sustainable agriculture ppt Presentation by Allah Dad Khan

Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 1

What is Sustainable Agriculture

ldquohellipa journey not a destinationrdquo

Allah Dad Khan

July 25th 2009

2

Water is Life

3

Natural Resources

4

Natural Resources 1Available natural resource base including

water land biodiversity grazing areas and forest climate of which altitude is one important determinant landscape including slope farm size tenure and organization and dominant pattern of farm activities and household livelihoods including field crops livestock trees aquaculture hunting and gathering processing and off-farm activities

2Taking into account the main technologies used which determine the intensity of production and integration of crops livestock and other activities

What is sustainability

The word sustain from the Latin sustinere (sus- from below and tenere to hold) to keep in existence or maintain implies long-term support or permanence

6

Definition of Sustainable Agriculture

The Technical Advisory Committee of Consultive Group of International Agriculture Research ( CGIAR) define Sustainable Agriculture ldquo Successful management of resources for agriculture to satisfy the changing humans needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality of the environment and conserving natural resourcesrdquo

What is sustainable agriculture

A farm system that mimics as closely as

possible the complexity of a healthy and

natural ecosystem Goals include

Providing a more profitable farm income Promoting environmental stewardship Promoting stable prosperous farm families and communities

Sustainable Agriculture

Reduces inputs Uses ecological pest and weed management strategies Cycles nutrients back into the soil for fertility and health Strengthens rural and urban communities Produces viable farm income Promotes healthy family and social values Brings the consumer back into agriculture

April 15 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 9

Sustainable Agriculture

ldquohellipan integrated system of plant and animal production practiceshellipthat will

satisfy human food and fiber needs enhance environmental quality make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources sustain economic viability enhance quality of liferdquo

1990 Farm Bill

Ecological Pest Management

Intercropping diversity and cover cropping 1048708 Crop rotation 1048708 Farmscaping 1048708 Use of resistant varieties

Reduced and no-tillage systems

1048708 Residue cover protects the soil from wind and

water erosion 1048708 Allows for greater moisture retention in

rainfed systems 1048708 These systems build soil organic matter

over a period of years and reach a higher ldquosteady staterdquo level than tilled systems in the same environment

Animal Manure

The use of fresh or undecomposed manure in agricultural systems is of great benefit to the farm 1048708 There are variations in nutrient profiles of animal manures 1048708 If using raw manure cannot apply to fields

for organic certification less than 120 days before harvest

Soil Fertility Composts

Use of compost in crop production and grass farming is beneficial to build soil organic

matter add nutrients to the soil and retain water 1048708 Nutrient contribution of manure-based compost is balanced between N-P-K Have a compost nutrient assessment done 1048708 How much compost to apply and timing is different on each farm 1048708 Ease and economics of use local availability and costs as well as variability of quality

Soil Fertility Cover Crops Cover crops improve the soilrsquos physical properties with carbon and nitrogen cycling 1048708 Some cover crops actually suppress certain parasitic nematodes and soil borne diseases

ie rye triticale mustards 1048708 Cover crops have superb weed suppressing effects by competing with weeds for light and smothering unwanted plants or through allelopathy 1048708 Reduce erosion and attract beneficial bugs

Composting

April 15 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 17

Economically sustainable

Provides a secure living for farm families

Provides a secure living to other workers in the food system

Provides access to good food for all

Economic Sustainability

Selecting profitable enterprises Sound financial planning Direct marketing Risk management

April 15 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 19

Environmentally Sound

Preserves thequality of soilwater and air

20

What is Environment

Typical definition looks at physical surrounding (land air water plants living non living organisms etc)

Contemporary definition include social economical and political components of environment

General definition include institutional frame work capacity investment climate geopolitical constraints etc are non physical elements of the environment in which every ecosystem has to operate and survive

21

Threats to environment

1 Global warming caused by the greenhouse effect

2 The depletion of the ozone layer3 Air pollution4 Water pollution5 Groundwater depletion6 Chemical pollution

Environmental Sustainability

Sustainable agriculture can be viewed as management of a production system where there is a multitude of complex interactions occurring between soil water plants animals climate and people 1048708 The GOAL is to integrate all these components

into a solid production system that benefits all participants 1048708 Farms stay environmentally sustainable by mimicking natural processes and ecosystem function 1048708 Diversifying our farms with various enterprises both animals and crops we manage risks a whole lot bet

Farm as an Ecosystem Energy Flow

Energy flow is the pathway of sunlight through a biological system In relation to the farm energy capture is

enhanced by maximizing the leaf area available for

photsynthesis and by cycling the stored energy through the food chain We make money in farming by capturing sunlight ndash in essence we are farming the sun (and the soil)

Farm as an Ecosystem Water Cycle

An effective water cycle includes no soilerosion fast water entry into the soil and thesoilrsquos ability to store water

Management decisions on the farm that add toground cover and soil organic matter onlyenhance the natural water cycle

Effective water use on the farm results in low surfacerunoff low soil surface evaporation low droughtincidence low flood incidence high transpiration byplants and high seepage of water to undergroundreservoirs (Savory and Butterfield 1999)

Water Cycle Source United States Climate Change Global Research Program 2001

Farm as an EcosystemMineral Cycle

In nature minerals needed for plant and animal

growth are continuously being recycled through the ecosystem An effective mineral cycle is one where there is a movement of nutrients from the soil to crops and animals and then back to the soil basically a circle of nutrient renewal Ways to enhance this cycle on the farm include on-farm feeding of livestock careful management of manure and crop residues and practices that prevent erosion

Farm as an Ecosystem Biodiversity

A farm will be dynamic and healthy if it has a

high diversity of plants and animals (above

ground and below) GREATERDIVERSITY = GREATERSTABILITY

April 15 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 30

Socially sustainable

Good for families Supports

communities Fair to all involved

Social Sustainability

Buying farm supplies locally rather than from outof- state 1048708 Educating your community about sustainable food production 1048708 Direct marketing through CSAs and farmersrsquo markets builds community and social sustainability 1048708 School tours and farm internships 1048708 Quality of life on the farm for everyone involved with clear communication and general happiness with farm wor

Bringing It All TogetherIntegrated Farming Systems

Goal is to find and adopt integrated and resource-efficient

crop and livestock systems that maintain productivity that are

profitable and that protect the environment and the personal

health of farmers and their families as well as overcoming

the barriers to adoption of more sustainable agricultural

systems so these systems can serve as a foundation upon

which rural American communities will be revitalized

Types of Sustainable Farming

Organic farming Biodynamic Permaculture Agroecological Systems Low-input

Why Sustainable AgricultureEnvironmental Damage

Why Sustainable Agriculture

Economic concentration of agribusiness gives

farmers little power or control over production

marketing and distribution 1048708 Loss of farms --155000 farms were

lost from 1987 to 1997 and 30 million acres have

been lost to development

April 15 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 36

Goals A desired endPractices Actions to achieve a goal

April 15 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 37

How do you get to goals

Figure out where you are Analyze your strengths and

weaknesses Select strategies (practices) Keep monitoring your progress Re-evaluate your goals and plans

April 15 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 38

Where are we

What are the Strengths

and Weaknesses

of our current agricultural system

April 15 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 39

Successes

Abundant Food Supply In The Developed World

Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Available Year-round

CHEAP FOOD Luxury foods such as coffee tea chocolate

and spices easily available around the world Effective food preservation technologies

(refrigeration freezing canning packaging) Convenience Foods Mechanization Produces High Labor Efficiency Improvements In Soil Conservation Availability Of Agricultural Inputs For Quick

Solutions To Production Problems

April 15 2023 Toward a Sustainable Agriculture 40

Problems

Continuing soil loss Food safety concerns (mad cow disease food

poisoning outbreaks antibiotic resistance toxins and pesticides)

Water pollution air pollution (amp odors) habitat loss water depletion

Continuing hunger ndash and rise of obesity Failing farms economic uncertainty and stress Declining communities Farm accidents chronic diseases linked to

agricultural chemicals Reliance on fossil fuels global warming Farmland loss to development ugly countryside Difficulty of starting in farming

41

Recommendations for the Preparation of agriculture system to combat with WTO regime in contest of sustainable agriculture

1 Increase in per unit yield developing new crops vegetables fruits varieties and livestock breeds

2 IPM measures should be launched

3 Farmerrsquos education and awareness

4 Crop rotation is needed to minimize the adverse affects of insects

5Drought resistance tolerant crop

42

Contd

6 Diversification of crops economic use of water resources

7 Establishment of food processing units and cold storages

8 Development and improvement of indigenous breed of buffaloes

9 Implementation of legislation relating to use of pesticides fertilizers and veterinary drugs

43

Contd

10 WTO cell establishment and then creating awareness

11Soil and water conservation 12Laser leveling 13No till practices

44

Our role to further Strengthen the Link

To achieve the goal of sustainable agriculture all the stake holders including farmers policy makers extension agents environmental agents researchers play their own part their own unique contribution in strengthening the sustainable agriculture community

45

Globalization

Is the present era of WTO regulated regulations namely TRIPSSPS etc the agriculture productivity tools have significantly changed To keep pace with the changing environment agriculture sector needs to be reorganized on sustainable lines

46

At the end

Agriculture has a potential to make world greener and its judicious development can conserve the resources therefore policies and practices which regulate inputs use and conserve nature should be promoted

47