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How Regenerative Farming Can Safeguard Our Soil

25-12-2024

08:37 AM

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1 min read
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Context

  • India, with a staggering population of 145 crore, has made significant strides in achieving self-reliance in food and nutrition over the past seven decades.
  • These accomplishments have primarily been driven by the expansion of agricultural lands and the intensification of practices during the Green Revolution.
  • Current agricultural systems may fall short of meeting this goal due to their unsustainable practices and mounting ecological costs.

Challenges of Current Agricultural Practices

  • Soil Degradation
    • The overuse of chemical fertilisers has caused significant depletion of soil health.
    • Over six decades of reliance on synthetic inputs have reduced the soil organic carbon content from a healthy 2.4% in 1947 to a critically low 0.4% today.
    • This degradation not only undermines the soil's ability to support crops but also jeopardizes its role in carbon sequestration, further exacerbating climate change.
    • Soil with organic carbon below the threshold of 1.5% loses its arability, making it unsuitable for sustainable farming.
  • Economic Costs
    • The financial burden of soil degradation is staggering. Over 70 years, the loss of soil organic carbon alone has cost India ₹47.7 lakh crore ($564 billion), translating to an annual loss of ₹68,243 crore ($8.06 billion).
    • Additionally, the Indian government spends ₹2 lakh crore ($25 billion) annually on subsidies for synthetic fertilisers.
    • These subsidies, while intended to support farmers, inadvertently encourage excessive and inefficient use of chemical inputs, further degrading the soil.
  • Declining Fertiliser Efficiency
    • The response ratio of fertilisers has seen a sharp decline over the decades. In the 1960s, every kilogram of NPK fertiliser produced 12.1 kilograms of grain.
    • By 2010-2017, this had dropped to just 5.1 kilograms, signalling diminishing returns on fertiliser use.
    • This decline is a direct consequence of deteriorating soil health, making it increasingly difficult to achieve high yields.
  • Environmental Impact
    • The environmental costs of India’s current agricultural practices are profound.
    • The use of synthetic fertilisers contributes to approximately 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, costing the country an additional ₹14,813 crore ($1.75 billion).
    • These emissions exacerbate global warming and threaten the long-term sustainability of agriculture.
    • Furthermore, intensive farming practices deplete natural resources such as groundwater and reduce biodiversity, compounding the ecological crisis.
  • Food Security Risk
    • If the current trends persist, India could face food shortages as early as 2035.
    • This risk is driven by a combination of factors: the growing population, increased food demand, declining soil productivity, and the adverse impacts of climate change.
    • Without immediate intervention to address these issues, India’s ability to feed its citizens will be severely compromised.
  • Social and Health Costs
    • Beyond the economic and environmental impacts, intensive agriculture poses significant social and health challenges.
    • The widespread use of chemical inputs has led to contamination of water and food supplies, adversely affecting public health.
    • Additionally, the heavy financial reliance on synthetic inputs traps farmers in a cycle of debt, contributing to rural distress and social inequities.

Necessary Steps to Address these Challenges

  • A Shift Towards Sustainable Agriculture
    • To address these challenges, India must transition to a climate-resilient, nature-based agricultural model.
    • Such a system prioritises ecological intensification over traditional intensification, reducing dependence on synthetic inputs while enhancing soil health, biodiversity, and overall productivity.
    • Regenerative farming, rooted in the principles of agroecology, emerges as a promising alternative.
    • This approach reduces input costs, conserves natural resources, and boosts farm productivity, while also promoting the well-being of farmers and consumers alike.
  • Mainstreaming Regenerative Practices
    • The Prime Minister’s National Mission on Natural Farming serves as a critical step toward safeguarding Indian agriculture.
    • By mainstreaming regenerative practices, India can ensure food, nutritional, and ecological security.
    • Studies have demonstrated that community-managed natural farming not only improves agricultural output but also builds social capital, enhances the health of farming communities, and fosters environmental sustainability.
  • The Need for Evidence and Policy Reform
    • For India to fully embrace regenerative farming, intensive and longitudinal research is necessary across all 15 agro-climatic zones.
    • Such studies will provide scientific evidence of the benefits of regenerative practices, helping to create awareness and inform policy frameworks.
    • Disseminating this evidence will also strengthen political will, creating the development of large-scale models for adopting sustainable agriculture.
    • Agroecological principles must guide this transformation and these include biological pest control, nutrient cycling, soil health enhancement, and biodiversity conservation.
    • A knowledge-intensive approach, supported by participatory and decentralised pedagogies, will empower farmers to implement these practices effectively.

Way Forward

  • A Radical Transformation in Agriculture
    • India’s vision of achieving net zero status by 2070 aligns with the goals of redesigning its agricultural systems.
    • By focusing on regenerative farming and ecological intensification, India can mitigate the risks of climate change, reduce hidden costs of agriculture, and ensure long-term food security.
    • A radical transformation of the agricultural paradigm, underpinned by robust evidence and policy support, is essential to secure the nation's nutritional and ecological future.
  • Building a Scientific and Policy Framework
    • Redesigning Indian agriculture requires a comprehensive strategy grounded in scientific evidence and participatory approaches.
    • Intensive field research across India’s 15 agro-climatic zones is essential to validate the benefits of regenerative farming and generate localised solutions.
    • Public dissemination of this evidence can foster awareness, political will, and policy support for scaling up sustainable practices.
    • Moreover, knowledge-intensive systems supported by decentralised pedagogies can empower farmers with the skills and resources to adopt agroecological principles.

Conclusion

  • India stands at a crossroads in its agricultural journey and the current model of intensive agriculture is unsustainable and poses significant risks to food security, ecological balance, and economic stability.
  • radical shift towards regenerative and ecological farming is the need of the hour because regenerative farming holds the key to balancing productivity with environmental stewardship.
  • By embracing this transformation, India can ensure its agricultural system remains resilient, productive, and sustainable, securing a healthier and more prosperous future for its people and the planet.

Q) What are the main reasons behind the decline in soil health in India?

The decline in soil health in India is primarily due to the overuse of synthetic fertilisers over the past six decades, reducing soil organic carbon content from 2.4% in 1947 to a critically low 0.4% today. This excessive reliance on chemical inputs has degraded the soil’s arability and productivity, exacerbating environmental issues like carbon sequestration inefficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.

Q) How do current agricultural practices in India pose risks to food security?

Current agricultural practices in India pose risks to food security through declining fertiliser efficiency, reduced soil productivity, and over-reliance on resource-intensive methods. Combined with rising food demand, climate change impacts, and soil degradation, these issues could lead to food shortages as early as 2035.

Source:The Indian Express