Sustainable Agriculture: A pragmatic solution
Written by: Admin
The sustainability means meeting the present needs without compromising on the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
The rising population is making the food shortage issue more challenging. Millions of people around the world do not have access to adequate food. Although the food shortage issue for now seems to be contained only in poor countries, it could wide spread easily if necessary steps are not taken in the right direction. Simply, increasing farming is not realistic.
One of the solutions to meet food requirements without compromising on environmental health and economic profitability is; using sustainable agriculture method to produce food. The sustainable agriculture techniques can produce food by reducing throughput resources and working more with nature.
Using of low-input agriculture also known as organic farming can significantly help produce more sustainably. Organic farming uses technologies to increase yields, control pests, and build soil fertility. It also relies more on perennial crops reducing the need of yearly cultivation of land.
The sustainable agriculture method increases availability of food as it could double or triple the food production. More poor people can get access to food. Future irrigation water cutbacks as a result of aquifer depletion. The sustainable agriculture method helps reducing the aquifer depletion and increase grain harvest. In addition, organic farming increases irrigation efficiency by building active soils with high content of organic matter that has positive effects on soil and water holding capacity, including groundwater recharge and decreased run-offs.
The sustainable agriculture is a joint effort by the farmers, policymakers, researchers, retailers, consumers, and others involved in the food chain process. Everyone has to make efforts to achieve the common goal of producing sufficient food with minimum environmental impact. Are you ready to play your part?
