Agroecology for preserving agrobiodiversity
- October 7, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
Agroecology for preserving agrobiodiversity
Subject: Environment
Context: Half of the breeds of many domestic animals have been lost. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), only nine plant species account for 66 per cent of total crop production, despite the fact that there are at least 30,000 edible plants.
- The United Nations Environment Program defines agro-ecology as “an ecological approach to agriculture, often described as low-external-input farming.
- Other terms such as regenerative agriculture or eco-agriculture are also used.
- Agro-ecology is not just a set of agricultural practices, it focuses on changing social relations, empowering farmers, adding value locally and privileging short value chains.
- It allows farmers to adapt to climate change, sustainably use and conserve natural resources and biodiversity
- In simple words, agro-ecology celebrates crop diversity.
- It seeks low energy external inputs, agro-ecological services as enterprises, soil covered for a large period of time through multiple cropping, niche crops and regional markets.
- The Prime Minister’s call for using less fertilisers and pesticides “as a great step for saving mother earth” on August 15, 2019 and reiteration of his “Vocal for Local” idea, aptly captures the essence of agro-ecology and it also meets 12 out of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Rain-fed areas provide nutrition security through millets, pulses and oilseeds.
- Productivity of most of the rain-fed crops is meagre as compared to their irrigated cousins and hence traits of resilience and improved productivity are screened for under rain-fed crop improvement programs.
- Most of the endemic and cultivable land races of these regions are ephemerals. The word ‘ephemeral’ denotes all plants lasting a very short period of time and they inhabit rain-fed areas.
- Introducing agro-ecology in rain-fed areas could thus be a good policy option.
Dryland Agriculture refers to growing of crops entirely under rainfed conditions.
a) Dry farming: is cultivation of crops in regions with annual rainfall less than 750 mm. Crop failures is most common due to prolonged dry spells during the crop period. These are arid regions with a growing season (period of adequate soil moisture) less than 75 days. Moisture conservation practices are necessary for crop production.
b) Dryland farming: is cultivation of crops in regions with annual rainfall more than 750 mm. In spite of prolonged dry spells crop failure is relatively less frequent. These are semiarid tracts with a growing period between 75 and 120 days. Moisture conservation practices are necessary for crop production. However, adequate drainage is required especially for vertisols or black soils.
c) Rainfed farming: is crop production in regions with annual rainfall more than 1150 mm. Crops are not subjected to soil moisture stress during the crop period. Emphasis is often on disposal of excess water. These are humid regions with growing period more than 120 days. In dry farming and dryland farming, emphasis is on soil and water conservation, sustainable crop yields and limited fertilizer use according to soil moisture availability. In rainfed agriculture, emphasis is on disposal of excess water, maximum crop yield, high levels of inputs and control of water erosion