Agriculture provides significant support for economic growth and social transformation of the country. As one of the world’s largest agrarian economics, agriculture plays a crucial role in ensuring food security while also accounting or a significant share of India’s Gross Domestic product (GDP). It engages almost two-thirds of the product (GDP). It engages almost two-thirds of the workforce in gainful employment. Several industries workforce in gainful employment. Several industries such as sugar, textiles, jute, food and milk processing etc. depend on agricultural production for their requirement of raw materials. On account of its close linkages with other economic sectors, agricultural growth has a multiplier effect sectors, agricultural growth has a multiplier effect on the entire economy. In order to sustain agricultural growth for meeting food requirements of growing population, policies and strategies need re-orientation with appropriate response mechanisms to meet not only food grain and buffer stock requirements, but also, to ensure livelihood security in times of calamitous incidents both natural and human driven.
Deceleration in Agricultural Growth:
The share of agriculture in Gross State Domestic product (GSDP) has declined significantly during the last two decades. The agriculture sector in India accounted for 17.57 percent of the GDP (at constant 2004-05 prices) in 2010-11 compared to 18.9 percent in 2004-05. Likewise agriculture sector witnessed a growth of 2.1 percent during the Tenth Plan. The sector registered a growth of 5.8 percent in 2005-06, 4.0 percent in 2006 -07 and 4.5 percent in 2007 – 08. However, there was a slowdown in agriculture growth in 2008-09 to 1.6 percent. Plan wise growth rate of GDP and Agri. GDP is given in table 01.
Environmental Challenges for Indian Agriculture: Issues and imllications
The Challenges for Indian agriculture are, to increase production, while minimizing environmental impact. This includes conserving and protecting the quality of the resources that determine the performance of agriculture like land, water and air Reductions, in yield, although determined by many factors, may be partially a consequence of land factors, may be partially a consequence of land and water exploitation. Below are the observations based on limited information available on land degradation and the relationship between quality and productivity of soil.
a.Degradation of Land:
It is observed that land degradation is more or less a universal phenomenon spread across all the states. BY the early 1980s approximately 53 percent of india's’geographical area had been considered degraded. Water logging affected about 6 percent of the cultivated area, while alkali and acidic soils both affected about 3 percent. The major process of land degradation is soil erosion contribution to over 71 percent of the land degradation. One third of this land was degraded by human activities while nearly one half was degraded by a combination of human and natural causes. Recent research found a negative ad significant negative relationship between land degradation and food grain productivity in both the 1980s and 1990s.
b.Depletion of Ground water:
Water is another major constraint for Indian agriculture. During the green revolution period water consumption in agriculture has risen sharply as the net irrigated area increased from 31.1 to 54.68 million to 20.46 million hectares during the same period. Groundwater, one of the India’s major sources for irrigation, is being rapidly depleted. The problem of groundwater depletion has been reported from rainfed states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajastan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Gujarat.
c.Imbalanced Use of Chemical Fertilizer:
The use of chemical fertilizers is concentrated in the two major crops namely; rice and wheat; together they constitute nearly two third of the total chemical fertilizers use in the country. Similarly, the use is concentrated in states like Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where the rate of NPK use has already gone beyond 100 kgs. Per hectare. Fertilizer application rose more than five-fold between 1970 and 2002. Imbalanced proportioning of chemical nutrients is a major problem associated with fertilizer application in India. It has been observed that heavy use of NPK has negative impact on environment.
d.Quality of Pesticides Used:
Pesticide consumption increased from 24.32 million tones in 1970-71 to 46.2 million tones in 1999-00. It may noted that about half of the pesticides registered with the Indian Pesticides Registration Committee are banned. Of course, this does not mean that all the banned products have the same effect on Indian soils. However, India accounts for one third of the cases filed with WTO on pesticide poisoning. Evidence suggests the needed for proper planning in order to promote and regulate pesticides use in the country. This finding has been supported by the fact that the farmers have only limited awareness of the hazardous effects of pesticides and at the same time have little information on the environment-friendly alternatives.
e.Impact of Climate Change on Indian Agriculture:
Climate change refers to the statistical variations in the properties of the climate system such as changes in global temperatures due to natural or human drivers over a long period of time. Climate change could drastically alter the distribution and quality of natural resources thereby adversely affecting the livelihood security of the people. Some of the major impacts are discussed below.
Impact on Crops:
There would be adverse impacts on yield and productivity o wheat and rice. 15-17% decrease in the yields of wheat and rice for a 2°C rise in temperature. Wheat, which is generally grown in the winter, is predicted to be affected more than rice. In wheat, grain number and weight is reduced due to prolonged high temperatures and drought conditions. Climate change is also likely to have significant effect on the quality of plantation ad cash crops such as cotton, fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, aromatic & medicinal plants, etc.
Impact on Soil and Water Resources:
Availability and quality of both surface and ground water would have effect on quality and quantity of grain. Reduction in ground water recharge will affect irrigation potentials. Possibilities of salinetion of land due to se water ingress and salt accumulation result in to degradation of soil quality and moisture content.
Impact on Insects and Diseases:
Insects have very high degree of adaptability to climate change. Change in climate is likely to bring about a change in the population dynamics, growth and distribution of insects and pests thereby, upsetting crop-pest balance. These changes could lead to enormous crop losses in altered environment. Climate change would decrease plant defense mechanism and creates more favorable environment for pests and insects.
Impact on Livestock and Fisheries:
Impacts of climate change on livestock will be felt in the form of elevated body temperatures, increased respiration rates, decrease in feed intake, etc. Indirect impacts would be observed in the form of reduction in grazing land water availability, decline in available cattle feed, emergence of new diseases, etc. Thermal or heat stress would impact animal production and profitability in dairying due to lower feed intake, milk production and reproduction.
Impact on Livelihoods, Food Security and Economy:
The impact of climate change on agriculture has large detrimental effects on availability of food, livelihoods and the overall economy. Lack of sufficient income to purchase food is a major factor contributing to food insecurity; hunger itself contributes to poverty by lowering labor productivity, reducing resistance to disease and depressing educational achievements.
Key risks to Indian agriculture from climate change:
The agriculture and allied sector in India is exposed to potential risks arising from climate variability and climate change which are expected to exacerbate the stress on Indian agriculture. Major risks are such as, decline in yields, increased farm expenditure, reduced farm incomes and increased threat of food insecurity and malnutrition. Significant negative impacts are being projected in the medium – term (2012 – 2039) such as reduction of agriculture yields up to 4.5 – 9 %, fall in GDP growth up to 2% per annum and reduction of agriculture yield in long term.
Indian agriculture has major challenges to ensure food security for growing population, which is estimated 310 million tonnes of food grains in 2050, stagnation of net-sown area. As a result, agricultural productivity has been witnessing stagnation in recent years.
Policy measures to Sustainable Agriculture Development:
Fostering rapid, sustainable and broad-based growth in agriculture is a key priority keeping in mind the overall socio-economic development path of the county, especially in the light of existing vulnerabilities that relate to a shrinking land resource base, and issues emerging due to climate change. To overcome this problem we need strategic approaches which balance environmental health and economic profitability in agriculture to promote social and economic equity.
Sustainable Agriculture is a special kind of agriculture along with farming technique which makes maximum utilization of the environment without causing any form of harm to it. The Out puts from this sustainable Agriculture are devoid of any types of inorganic chemicals such as pesticides and insecticides. This farming technique uses the organic way of farming through the conservation of natural resources and maintenance of ecosystem functions. All these factors produce the products in a more environment friendly manner and are thus healthier for the consumers to consume . Following are the initiatives taken by the government.
Improved Crop seeds, Livestock and Fish culture
Biotechnology is an important tool for the development of genetic resources with greater adaptive capacity to cope with changing environments . It has huge potential for combating vulnerabilities in crops, livestock and fisheries. The rich indigenous genetic resources in the crops, livestock and fisheries sector should be conserved, catalogued and advantageously used while also conserving the agriculture heritage of the country. Relevant technologies should be used for rapid bulking of improved varieties of crops, livestock and fishes. Public partnerships should be promoted in development, management and dissemination of the improved varieties.
Water Efficiency:
Two-thirds of the cultivated land in India is rainfed and suffers from water scarcity. Effective management of available water , increasing water use efficiency and establishment of additional sustainable sources of water emerge as the primary issues that need to be addressed. Strategies and technologies under this dimension must be coupled with demand and supply side management solution to enhance water use efficiency for irrigation. The role of local institutions in managing water allocation and utilization will also be crucial for promoting efficiency. Policy instruments will have to be leveraged to encourage adoption of technologies for enhancing water use efficiency and to promote public-private partnerships.
Pest Management:
Pesticide consumption in India has increased over time and its injudicious use has created problem like development of resistant strains in insect and plant pathogens, resurgence of pest species, direct exposure to the applicator. Pesticide residues in feed and water affect livestock health due to direct and indirect exposure in the course of pest control measures . Strategies suggested under this intervention have to primarily focus on establishment of decision and information support systems for pest and disease surveillance, demonstration support systems for pest and disease surveillance, demonstration of best practices and quick response mechanism that are at par with the norms to deal with other disasters or naturals calamities.
Improves Farm Practices:
The most effective way to address climate change is to adopt a sustainable development pathway by shifting to environmentally sustainable technologies and adaptation of energy efficient equipments , renewable energy, and conservation of natural resources. Improves agronomic practices have the potential to help reduce farm level losses through improves soil treatment, increased water use efficiency, judicious use of chemicals.
Nutrient Management:
Plant nutrient management to increase soil nutrients and thus enhance crop productivity, it is a major technological challenge for ensuring food security and sustaining rural development. Soil health can be improved through several site and soil –specific management options. Application of integrated nutrient management techniques has been found to increase nutrient use efficiency by integrating and balancing the nutrient does in relation to nutrient status and crop requirement.
Agricultural Insurance:
Agricultural insurance is an important mechanism by which risks to agricultural output and income can be addressed . Crop insurance incentivizes farmers to adopts innovative options by spreading the risks over space and time. Deficiencies in the existing framework of assessment of crop damage and prompt settlement of claims need to be addressed so that a disaster mode of operational efficiency is institutionalized. Research and development activities for developing new insurance products in the light of new risk emerging from climate change also need to be taken up . An effective design and efficient implementation mechanism is required to ensure timely implementation mechanism is required to ensure timely benefits especially to the small and marginalized farmers.
Credit Support:
Adequate , united and timely credit support to farmers is essential for sustaining farm productivity, especially when it comes to small and marginal farmers. Easy and timely financial support provided to farmers can help in adoption of improved management practices including resource conservation technologies, diversification, and post harvest value addition processes etc. which would contribute to reducing risk and enhancing farm incomes. Facilitating providing financial support through input dealers, NGOs, Self Help Groups (SHGs) etc. Would help in providing access to credit to the needy, small and marginalized farmers, which facilitate them to manage the additional risks arising from climate change in a sustainable manner.
Markets:
Inadequate marketing infrastructure , presence of large number of intermediaries, lack of market information and inadequate storage facilities result in huge post harvest losses in the food supply chain. Some of the major initiatives need to be taken up under this head such as ; creating market aligned production systems; strengthening post harvest management , storage, marketing and distribution system; strengthening timely access to farmers to quality inputs; strong farmer institution industry interface and encouraging food processing industries and greater exports.
Access to information:
Effective communication approached are very important for farmers to adapt with market fluctuation or climate change. Fresh strategies for management of information may be required to sustain production levels. At the level of the farm, focus needs to be on enhancing awareness of farmers as well as the developmental agencies with the latest scientific research, market information, and policy initiatives so that they are empowered to take informed decision for maximizing farm productivity.
Livelihood Diversification:
Livelihood diversification plays a major role in providing options of supplementing income from core agricultural activities by providing additional support to agricultural income under conditions of climatic and non-climatic stresses. The strategies under this dimension would aim to promote diversification of agriculture into other high value crops and horticulture; research, development and extension of crop-livestock farming systems; agro-forestry, crop-fish farming , etc.
Conclusion:
The journey of Indian agriculture and its associated environmental problems has brought about recognition that future agriculture growth and productivity will have to occur simultaneously with environmental sustainability. The environmental challenges, especially in terms of land degradation and ground water depletion, water logging and excessive use of chemical inputs are posing problems for the future of Indian agriculture. To address the problems, policies have laid emphasis on promoting sustainable production system while at the same time , exploiting its fullest potential and thereby ensuring food security, equitable access to food resources, enhancing livelihood opportunities and contributing to economic stability at the national level.
Source: Kurukshetra
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