- 1. Economics Aspects of Conservation Agriculture K.M.Singh
Principal Scientist and Head, Division of Socio Economics,
Extension & Training, ICAR-RCER, Patna Presentation in Workshop
on Resource Conservation Technologies ICAR-RCER, Patna from 17-19
September 2009.
2. What is Conservation Agriculture? o Conservation agriculture
or Resource Conservation Technology (RCT) is an approach for the
design and management of sustainable and resource-conserving
agricultural systems. o It seeks to conserve, improve and make more
efficient use of natural resources through integrated management of
soil, water, crops and other biological resources in combination
with selected external inputs. o Such a technological package
represents a resource saving and efficient agriculture that
contributes to environmental conservation and at the same time
enhances production on sustainable basis. o Elements of
Conservation Agriculture, inter-alia, include improved on-farm
water management, minimum tillage, organic soil cover, direct
seeding through the crop residue and appropriate crop rotations to
avoid disease and pest problems. 3. Economic Rationale For
Promoting Conservation Agriculture o From the farmer's perspective,
the benefits of CA can be either on-site (private) or off-site
(reduced sediment pollution, carbon sequestration, o In the absence
of sustainable soil management practices, soil degradation can lead
to crop and livestock losses, with regional or global consequences
(refugees, famine, etc.). o Where the rest of the world provides
assistance, these resources are wasted if the earlier adoption of
CA or other practices could have avoided the situation. o In
addition, lands under CA support terrestrial wildlife and soil
micro fauna that are important components in global biodiversity. o
Thus, good soil conservation and management can have benefits that
the individual farmer does not anticipate, but which do have real
implications for the global environment. 4. RCT refers to the
system of raising crops without tilling the soil while retaining
crop residues on the soil surface. The key elements which
characterize RCT include: o Minimum soil disturbance by adopting
no-tillage and minimum traffic for agricultural operations, o Leave
and manage the crop residues on the soil surface, and o Adopt
spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations to derive
maximum benefits from inputs and minimize adverse environmental
impacts. o Combining the above elements with improved land-shaping
(e.g. through laser aided leveling, planting crops on beds, etc.)
further enhances the opportunities for improved resource
management. o In conventional systems, while soil tillage is a
necessary requirement to produce a crop, tillage does not form a
part of this strategy in RCT. o Intensive tillage in conventional
systems causes gradual decline in soil organic matter content
through accelerated oxidation, resulting in reduced capacity of the
soil to regulate water and nutrient supplies to plants. 5. Benefits
of RCT o Direct benefits to farmers include reduced cost of
cultivation through savings in labour, time and farm power, and
improved use efficiency resulting in reduced use of inputs. o RCT
practices reduce resource degradation. o Gradual decomposition of
surface residues improves soil organic matter status, biological
activity and diversity and contributes to overall improvement in
soil quality. o RCT is a way to reverse the processes of
degradation inherent in conventional agricultural practices
involving intensive cultivation, burning and/or removal of crop
residues, etc. o RCT leads to sustainable improvements in efficient
use of water and nutrients by improving nutrient balance and
availability, infiltration and retention by the soil, reducing
water loss due to evaporation and improving the quality and
availability of ground and surface water. 6. RCT in India o The
primary focus of promoting RCT practices has been the development
and adoption of zero tillage cum fertilizer drill for sowing wheat
crop in ricewheat system. o Other interventions include raised-bed
planting system, laser-aided land-leveling equipment, residue
management alternatives, alternatives to ricewheat cropping system
in relation to RCT technologies, etc. o The adoption and spread of
zero tillage is attributed to benefits like reduction in cost
production, reduced incidence of weeds and therefore savings on
account of weedicide costs, savings in water and nutrients and
environmental benefits. o Adopting RCT helps in achieving greater
crop diversification. o Crop sequences/rotations can further
enhance natural ecological processes which contribute to system
resilience and reduced vulnerability to yield, thus reducing
disease and pest problems. o Zero-tillage when combined with
appropriate surface-managed crop residues results in structural
improvement of soil and increased recycling and availability of
plant nutrients, which also improves soil moisture regime,
biological activity and provides a favourable environment for crop
growth. 7. Resource Conservation Technologies (RCT) Laser Land
Leveling: It is a resource conservation technology, where laser
beam guided automatic scrapers are used for more precision of land
leveling work. Impact studies reveal significant benefits of
precision land leveling as given below: Major Benefits of Laser
Land Leveling Particulars Extent (%) Curtailment in irrigation
application losses 25 Reduction in labour requirements 35
Enhancement in the irrigated area 2 Increase in the crop yields 20
8. Benefits of Precision Land Leveling using Laser Equipped Drag
Bucket o Improving crop establishment o Improving uniformity of
crop maturity o Approximately 3 % (in canal irrigated area) to 6 %
(in tubewell irrigated area) increase in cultivable area o Has
potential to increase water application efficiency by over 50 % o
Increase in water productivity of crops o Increase in yield of
crops (15 to 25 %) o Approximately 25-30% saving in irrigation
water o Increase in nutrient use efficiency (15- 25 %) o Reduces
weed problems and improves weed control efficiency. (Jat et al,
2004) 9. Zero Tillage o One of main reasons for low yields of wheat
in rice-wheat cropping system is delayed planting of wheat due to
late maturing of preceding rice crop sown in the region besides
high cost of land preparations and other inputs. o After rice
harvest, sufficient residual moisture is generally available to
establish new crop. o Conventional tillage accelerates soil
moisture evaporation and requires extra irrigation water to bring
the field back to semblance of a seedbed. o This causes major
delays in wheat sowing, which ultimately affects final crop yields.
Decrease in wheat yield @ one percent per day after mid November is
well documented. o Minimum/zero tillage offers conservation of
water and energy resources and also results in better crop yields.
o This technology had been in use since long in many parts of the
world and then it was introduced in India. Initial trials were
confined to progressive and large farmers. o Although yields
results were impressive but uptake of the technology remained
limited. This is partly because of high cost of zero tillage seed
drills with limited availability. 10. Potential Benefits to the
Application of Residue-Based Zero Tillage Systems o Reduced Cost of
erosion o Reduction in the cost of fertilizers o Elimination of the
costs of replanting o Savings in herbicides: o Savings in fuel o
Reduced Costs of physical conservation works: o Increase in
production o Analysis of the cost-benefit ratio of soil
conservation: Investments in RCT could provide a return of 20
percent per year with the widespread adoption of adequate practices
(particularly zero tillage and crop rotations) over a time period
of 20 years. 11. On-farm benefits o Increase in organic matter
content in upper layers of soil, increased biodiversity, number and
activity (of earthworms, fungi, bacteria, etc.) in the soil. Better
soil structure; soil loss reduced by over 80 percent, runoff by 50
percent or more; o Greater availability of P, K, Ca, Mg in the root
zone; less fertilizer needed for same result. o Better germination
and development of plants, better root development and to much
greater depth; better crop stand in rainless periods due to
increased water holding capacity. o Yields often higher, typically
+ 20 percent for maize/wheat, + 37 percent for beans, with less
year-to-year yield variation. o Less investment and reduced use of
machinery and animals in crop production; reduced costs for labour,
fuel and machinery-hours perceptible within 2 years. o Operational
net margins per ha rose by between + 58 percent and + 164 percent,
because of combination of lower cost of production and increase in
yields. o Greater flexibility in farm operations especially over
optimum dates for planting. 12. Projected area coverage, savings in
fuel and labor, and additional gains in productivity of wheat Year
Acres under zero-till Total net saving (million Rs) Additional
gains in wheat production (t) Fuel saved (l) Time saving (days
labor) 2001 60,000 80 65,790 1,440,000 3,500,000 2002 180,000 240
197,370 4,320,000 10,500,000 2003 540,000 720 592,110 12,960,000
31,500,000 2004 1,250,000 1,667 1,370,625 30,000,000 72,916,667
Total 2,030,000 2,707 2,225,895 48,720,000 118,416,667 13. Salient
features of zero tillage and puddled broadcasted sowing in rice
under heavy soils of Patna ( 2003) Resource Benefits Rs./ha over
conventional method (Puddled Transplanted) ZT Puddled broadcasted
Saving in nursery raising 1140 1140 Saving in land preparation
puddling, bund making and nursery uprooting 2850 00 Saving in rice
planting/sowing 1200 1800 Saving in weeding (-) 3000 00 Increase
income due to additional yield 2000(4q/ha) 1000 (2q/ha) Total gains
4190 3940 Source: Dr.S.S.Singh 14. Salient features of zero tillage
sowing in wheat under heavy soils of Patna Resource Benefits rates
over conventional sown (Rs./ha) Land preparation cost including
sowing 1200 Saving in Seed 200 (20 kg/ha) Saving in 1st irrigation
267 (12 lit/ha) Saving in weeding 200 Increase income due to
additional yield 4950 (8q/ha) Total gains 6617 Source: Dr.S.S.Singh
15. Salient features with pros and cons among zero tillage, surface
seeding and conventional sowing in wheat under heavy soils of Patna
- 2003 Features Zero tillage Surface seeding Conventional sowing
Land preparation cost included sowing (Rs./acre) 240 00 800 Cost of
diesel (Rs./acre) 60 00 300 Seed rate (kg/acre) 50 64 60 Advancing
sowing date over conventional (days) 10-12 15-22 -- Source:
Dr.S.S.Singh 16. Economics of Rice establishment in Patna-2002
(Rs./ Bigha*) Particular Zero tillage Surface seeding Conventional
sowing Land preparation 00 200 200 Nursery raising 00 00 400
Puddling 00 500 500 Bund making 00 200 200 Rice planting/sowing 175
50 150 Weeding pre planting/ sowing 200 00 00 Weeding post
planting/sowing 125 125 125 Total 500 1075 1575 Saving over
conventional method 1075 500 -- *1 ha =4 Bighas Source:
Dr.S.S.Singh 17. Off-farm benefits o Flooding risks reduced by
30-60 percent due to greater rainfall infiltration. Better recharge
of underground aquifers, improving groundwater reserves and dry
season flow in springs and streams; o Less herbicide use, more
recycling of animal wastes; less sedimentation and infrastructure
damage, e.g. silting of waterways, large dams; o Reduced water
treatment costs due to less sediment, less bacterial and chemical
contamination, and Savings of up to 50 percent in costs of
maintenance and erosion avoidance on rural roads; o Reductions in
fuel consumption of 50-70 percent or more and proportional
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; o Reduced pressure on the
agricultural frontier and reduced deforestation by high-yielding,
sustainable conservation agriculture and increased pasture carrying
capacity through rotation with annual crops; o Enhanced diversity
and activity of soil biota; Reduced carbon emissions through less
fuel use and enhanced carbon sequestration by not destroying crop
residues and increasing, rather than losing, soil organic matter
(FAO, 2001a). 18. Bed and furrow planting Bed and furrow planting
technology permits growing of crops on beds with less water. This
technique has been tested for various crops and proved quite
successful for wheat, maize, rice, etc. Some of the advantages
associated with bed and furrow technology of crop production are
given below: o Saving of about 30 percent irrigation water o Less
reduced chances of plant submergence due to excessive rain or
over-irrigation o Lesser crusting of soil around plants and,
therefore, more suitable for saline and sodic soils o Adaptable for
various crops without changing basic design/layout of farm o
Enhanced fertilizer use efficiency due to local application o
Minimum chances of crop lodging 19. Crop Residues Management
Majority of the farmers consider crop residues, particularly their
large amounts, as unwanted by-products and burn it. The major
losses/damages associated with burning of wheat residues are as
under: o Deterioration of general condition of the soil o Lowering
of soil capability/fertility to produce high yields o Burning of
beneficial insects/micro-organisms in the soil o Endangers natural
environment o Considerable financial loss to farmers as the
residues removed from fields could be used for some other purpose
e.g. fodder, straw sale, and kitchen fuel. 20. Major benefits of
management of crop residues o Better soil health and productivity o
Addition in organic matter contents o Enhances infiltration rate o
Improves water and nutrients use efficiency o Accelerates microbial
activity o Lowers weeds infestation o Increases yield by 15-20
percent o Reduces environmental pollution o Removal of residues can
provide additional income from grain recovery and straw sale and
also dry feed for livestock. 21. Conserving resources enhancing
productivity o Availability of machinery/equipment for promotion of
resource conservation technologies is a prerequisite for achieving
targets of agricultural production. Availability of the implement
at economical cost is the major constraint in promotion of bed
planting of crops. Likewise, machinery is not available for crop
residue management that is impeding the acceleration of this
practice. o Organizing farmers days, holding of field
demonstrations, cross-farm visits of extension experts and
effective use of mass media i.e. print and electronic media for
transfer of technology may play a major role in promotion of
resource conservation technologies amongst the farming community.
22. Conserving resources enhancing productivity o Capacity building
of farmers to acquire, test and adopt the technologies through
participatory approach will enable them to seek resource
conservation technologies for their farms and thus they can reduce
their production cost and combat production constraints. o
Improvement in coordination among various stakeholders (research,
extension service, farmers, service providers, agricultural
machinery manufacturers, etc.) for transfer of technologies will
play a pivotal role in accelerating the adoption of new
interventions. 23. THANK YOU