SESSION 1 & 2
THE CRISIS OF MODERN AGRICULTURE
Why has modern agriculture led to erosion of the stocks of natural capital in a way that future growth of agriculture sector is seriously compromised? Several dimensions have to be looked into:
a) Soil fertility and structure, erosion and conservation
b) Treadmill effect due to intensive use of chemical pesticides
c) Declining ground water and problems of water logging, salinity and alkalinity
d) Declining biodiversity in agriculture and forests with implications for diffusion of pest and diseases, soil nutrient management and micro-climatic variabilities
e) Decline of common property resources such as grazing lands, area for manure pits, drainage lines, water bodies, etc.
What are the pathways through which inter-linkages between different sub-systems of farming system can be studied?
Essential Readings:
- Pathways showing inter linkages between different components of a farming system (AKG)
- Sustainability of Indian Agriculture: Green Revolution Revisited (AKG)
- Carol Canada, 2001, Agriculture: A list of websites, The National Council for Science and Environment, CRS, Washington DC .
www.cnie.org/NLE/CRSreports/Agriculture/ag-80.cfm
Desiurable Reading:
- Beare, M. H.; Cameron, K. C.; Williams, P. H. and Doscher, C. Soil Quality Monitoring For Sustainable Agriculture.NZPPS Paper.
www.hortnet.co.nz/publications/nzpps/proceedings/97/97_520.htm