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Why We Should Reject the Current Agri Practices and What Should We Do to Meet the Ever Increasing Global Hunger Sustainably

 

 

 

 

Why we should reject the current agri practices and what should we do to meet the ever increasing global hunger sustainably.

Dr. Ashok Kumar Panigrahi & Mrs. Kusum Misra.

1. Green revolution practices are based on synthetic chemicals and biocides.

 

2. Genetically modified crop varieties (such as Bt cotton) have all failed in the long run. 3. Soil has become hard, without pores, lost water retaining ability and full of resistant pest eggs. 4. The crop field ecosystem at present is composed of seral community (that has least species diversity, input oriented productivity leading to instability), hence, nonsustainable. 5.

The crop field ecosystem is neither visited by pollinating bees and predatory birds (because they are all dead and gone) nor its soil contains the beneficial microbes such as mycorrhizae or VAM.

6.

 

The so called food is devoid of vitamins A and C (due to excess use of MOP), copper and zinc (due to application of DAP/Super phosphate) and manganese, nickel and cobalt (through the use of paper mill sludge at places where there are paper mills, such as Balasore).

7.

 

The so called food contains more carbohydrate and less protein because of the applications of

artificial synthetic fertilizers.

8.

 

According to several environmentalists and soil chemists, modern agriculture yields two crops one is disease and the other one is pest. Besides the so called food is toxic due to excess presence of nitrates and nitrites that cause methaemoglobinaemia which resulted in a cattle epidemic in Rajasthan in the recent past.

9.

 

Eutrophication in water bodies that lead to fish death is due to excess use of nitrogenous

fertilizers.

10

 

According to Pearson, there occurs on an average over 10,000 pesticide related human deaths and nearly 10 times of that figure get hospitalized for the agricultural pesticides in developing countries every year.

Genetically Modified Crops in Perspective

Lessons learned from 5 decades of insecticide based cotton pest management are relevant in assessing the likely longer-run impacts of GM crops on pesticide use.3 major families of chemistry have accounted for most cotton insecticide use from the 1960s through 1680s –the organochlorines,or chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT,aldrin/dialdrin,toxaphene,chlordane/heptachlor);the organophosphates (parathion,malathion,chlorpyriphos etc. among many others) ; and carbamates (aldicarb,carbofuran, oxamyl,carbaryl etc.). In the mid 1980s the synthetic pyrethroids (permethrin, cypermethrin etc.) came in to use. Changes in reliance across the families of Chemistry are shown in the Table next.

Table: Changes in cotton insecticide use by family of chemistry (million pounds a.i. ),USDA Data.

 

Compounds 1964 1966 1971 1976 1982 1992 1998 2000

Organochlorines 54.6 45.4 33 18.6 1.2 1.2 0.3 0.5

Organophosphates 15.6 14.3 28.6 31.4 12.9 13.4 11.3 36.1

Carbamates 6.2 4.5 10.3 12.2 3.5 4 2.7 3.5

Syn.Pyrethroids 0 0 0 0 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.3

Others 1.6 0.7 1.5 2 1 0.3 0.1 0.1

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total poundsApplied- 78 64.9 73.4 64.2 19.4 19.8 14.8 40.5

(Source- Agrobios n l November, 2002.)

Comparison of Organic farming vrs Chemical farming in terms of Gross input, Gross return, Net return & BC ratio.

Farmer – S N Patra (Balasore,Orissa) , Soil - Deltaic alluvial (clay)

Season - Rabi, 2003-04, Crop - Rice, Variety - Lalat (HYV)

Treatment Grain Yield Straw Yld. Gross Gross Net B C ratio

(Qtl./Acre ) (Qtl./Acre) Input Return Return ( GrossReturn/

(in Rs.) (in Rs.) (in Rs.) GrossInput)

------------------- -------------- ------------- --------- ----------- --------- --------------

* Control (+ compost.) 12.7 15.85 4,740/- 7,872/- 3,132/- 1.66

* Azolla (2T) +Fresh

Cow dung(10q) 19.4 24.03 5,090/- 12,010/- 6,920/- 2.359

* Pongam

Oil cake(2.5q) 21.6 26.7 6,490/- 13,368/- 6,878/- 2.059

* Fresh cow dung 18.3 23.74 5,090/- 11,415/- 6,325/- 2.242

* Pong.cake(1.5q)+Azolla+

Cow urine(500L) 23.5 29.47 5,690/- 14,577/- 8,887/- 2.561

* Chemical(with

N:P:K-32:16:16) 20.2 25.27 6,855/- 12,259/- 5,404/- 1.788

 

1. • All the 6 plots were of 0.5dec.each & replicated 3 times ;all applications once in basal,1st.TD&2nd.TD

 

Farmer: R N Barik ( Bhimpur pahi, Balasore, Orissa ) Soil: Coastal alluvial (sandy loam); Season: Kharif,2004-05. Crop: Rice, Variety: Pooja (HYV)

Treatment Grain yield Straw yield Gross Input Gross Return Net Return B C Ratio

( Qtl/Acre ) ( Qtl/Acre ) ( in Rs. ) ( in Rs. ) ( in Rs. ) ( GR/GI )

* Control (+compost) 16.5 22.1 4,640/- 10,348/- 5,708/- 2.23

* Compost+Biofertilr. 18.8 23.5 4,990/- 11,656/- 6,666/- 2.336

*

Comp.+BF+Azolla 20.1 25.02 4,990/- 12,453/- 7,463/- 2.496

* Poultry manure+BF` 20.4 26.5 5,290/- 12,728/- 7,438/- 2.406

 

*

Sesbania+BF 20.9 27 5,100/- 13,028/- 7,928/- 2.555

*

NeemOC(1Q)+

Compost+BF 21.2 27.7 5,590/- 13,240/- 7,650/- 2.369

* Sesbania+Compost+

Pong.OC(1Q)+BF 21.9 28.52 5,500/- 13,670/- 8,170/- 2.485

* Sesbania+Compost+

NeemOC (1Q) +BF 22.1 29.4 5,700/- 13,844/- 8,144/- 2.429

* Chemical( with

N P K @32:16:16) 21.9 27.5 6,755/- 13,313/- 6,558/- 1.971

Study of Rice productivity under different applications in captive (potted) conditions conducted at FM (Auto.)College, Balasore,Orissa.

Initial soil fertility index :- N = 269.7, P = 61.9, K = 561.25 ( all in kg/ha.)

Applications

 

Soil Fertility at

30 DAT (in

Kg/ha.)

 

Soil Fertility after harvest (in Kg/ha.)

Grain Yield per pot(Gm)

 

Straw Yield

per pot(Gm)

 

N P K

 

N P K

 

Control

 

266.56 79.8 538.9

 

175.6 39.75 405.8

 

16

 

36

 

Chem.(32:16:16)

 

379.45 75.66 567.1

 

213.24 40.39 478.4

 

10

 

24

 

Vermi compost

 

279.1 85.9 553.7

 

181.8 50.01 405.8

 

28

 

42

 

FYM+BF

 

285.3 83.3 552.3

 

185 48.09 404.5

 

22

 

33

 

Azolla(4.5gm)

 

288.5 85.9 525.5

 

178.75 50.2 419.3

 

25

 

36

 

Pou.Man(2.25gm)

 

285.3 88.4 525.5

 

191.2 35.25 409.9

 

24

 

36

 

Sesbania(100gm)

 

271.2 75 526.8

 

141.12 40.13 411.2

 

20

 

43

 

Pong.OC(1gm)

 

274.4 76.9 528.1

 

169.3 32.44 424.7

 

29

 

37

 

Pong.OC(2gm)

 

285.3 80.7 540.2

 

169.3 45.2 404.5

 

32

 

34

 

NeemOC(1.5gm)

 

285.37 83.3 567.1

 

216.3 48.9 413.95

 

24

 

38

 

Sesbania+BF

 

266.5 93.6 533.5

 

163.07 42.57 413.9

 

23

 

35

 

NeemOC+BF

 

279.1 88.5 557.7

 

213.2 42.7 419.3

 

24

 

38

 

Verm.Com+BF+

POC(2.5gm) =

 

344 83.3 565.8

 

225.7 42.9 423.36

 

31

 

39

 

Sesbania+VC+NOC+

BF+CowUrine

 

376.3 82.07 557.7

 

254 42.3 427.3

 

29

 

47

 

Sesbania+VC+NOC+

BF+CU+Azolla

 

398.2 81.43 553.7

 

257.1 41.6 421.4

 

40

 

49

 

Sesbania+VC+POC+

BF+CU+Azolla

 

392 88.48 552.3

 

258.7 48.2 440.8

 

32

 

38

 

Sesbania+VC+POC+

BF+CU+NOC

 

388.8 89.2 557.7

 

254 47.4 442.1

 

33

 

56

 

Sesbania+PM+POC+

BF+CU+NOC

 

401.4 91.05 540.2

 

260.2 45.14 419.3

 

19

 

22

 

Type of worm cast

 




Nitrogen ( kg / ha )

 




Phosphorus

( kg / ha )

 




Potash

( kg / ha )

 

Road side cast under shade ( Metaphire posthuma )

 




610.2

 




47.7

 




781

 

Worm cast collected from a cultured pot with both, Perionyx excavatus &Eisenia foetida

 




573.88

 




70.65

 




825.85

 

Worm cast of P.excavatus

 




558.2

 




52.2

 




611.52

 

Worm cast of mixed species(collected from vegetable cultivated field of ribbed gourd)*

 




698.92

 




90.36

 




161*

 

Comparison of Nutrient availability in soil sample with worm cast

Available Nutrient

( in Kg / ha )

 




Soil sample from the site

(control)

 




Worm cast of

M.posthuma

 

 

, giant

tropical earthworm




Soil sample from the site

(control)

 




Worm cast of

(mixed species)

P.excavatus

 

E.foetida

(1:1)

 

(1:1) &

Nitrogen

 




340.2

 




610.2

 




269.7

 




573.88

 

Phosphorus

 




40.8

 




46.7

 




61.9

 




70.65

 

Potash

 




380.7

 




781

 




561.25

 




825.85

 

1. 1. AN EXAMPLE OF ORGANIC FARMING CONVERTED TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (IN RICE) IN THREE YEARS TIME

      Farmer: - Pitambar Jena Village: - MangalpurDistrict: - Mayurbhanj (Orissa)

      Soil type: - Sandy loam, Period of organic management – since 2001

      Crop:-Rice Variety: - Kasturi (HYV), Cultivation under study: -kharif 2004 – 05

      Area under cultivation: - 1214 sq.mts.(30dec.,approximately- 1 bigha)

      Ingredients applied (@ as below since 2001)

       

      1. 1. Sesbania (dhanicha)- 3 kg (@ of 10 kg/acre), incorporated at pre flowering stage.

       

       

      2. 2. Pongam oil cake--- 45 kg (@ 1.5 qntls./acre), applied at the time pudling (with dhanicha).

       

       

   2. 3.

   Farm yard manure – 3 qntls.( @ 10 qntls/acre) applied at the time sowing of dhanicha seeds(after 2nd ploughing)

   3. .

       

    

   1. 4. Stocked cow urine as collected from the cattle shed with soil and applied in the field – in 2 applications ( at the time of 1st T D and 2nd T D )- 1.2 qntls (@ 4 qntls/acre).

    

    

   2. 5. Regular fresh dilute(1:9) cow urine applications-from panicle initiation till ripening of paddy seeds.(cow urine – N= 78 / 83 ppm; P = 8.18 –/9.73 ppm ; K = 387.5 / 385.5 ppm

    

   with reference to Jersey and native cow respectively ).

   Soil fertility Index as observed-

   Time of sample collection N(kg/ha) P(kg/ha) K(kg/ha)

   -------------------------------- ----------------- --------------- --------------------

   Initial soil fertility -------- 283.7 42.6 168.3

   45 days after transplantation 458.2 45.8 273.6

   75 -do- -do- 462.1 39.9 260.1

   After harvesting of crop 393.6 35.2 254.7

    

   Actual Grain Yield

   (in quintal)

    

   
   

   Grain Yield

   (in qntl./Ac)

    

   
   

   Actual Straw yield

   (in quintal)

    

   
   

   Straw yield

   (in qntl./Ac)

    

   
   

   Gross Input

   (in Rupees)

    

   
   

   Gross Return

   (in Rupees)

    

   
   

   B: C Ratio

    

   8.5

    

   
   

   28.33

    

   
   

   9.9

    

   
   

   33

    

   
   

   1,317/-

    

   
   

   5,892/-

    

   
   

   4.47

    

   11. Observation of pest attack:- No significant pest attack was observed at any stage of cultivation

       Sustainable agriculture is advantageous because:-

        

   12. ?
   13. Least chance of seed – crop failure – farmer being the seed owner himself.

        

        

   14. ?
   15. Soil full of humus, moisture and fertility.

        

        

   16. ?
   17. Least dependence on purchased inputs – more dependence on internal inputs.

        

        

   18. ?
   19. Least chances of crop failure due to pests and diseases, as pests are managed by biopest control measures and through use of botanicals.

        

        

   20. ?
   21. Higher returns with higher cost benefit ratios.

        

        

   22. ?
   23. Helps conserve water, the most important and critical resource of the time.

        

        

   24. ?
   25. Ensures food safety with food security and can address the increasing global hunger adequately.

        

        

   26. ?
   27. Preserves environment, maintain ecological balance.

        

        

   28. ?
   29. Generates healthy and tasty food with higher keeping quality.

        

        

   30. ?
   31. Makes agriculture a profitable enterprise, conserve the small and marginal farmers who produce the largest bulk of food.

        

        

   32. ?
   1. Amplifies conservation of biodiversity including agro biodiversity.

       

Organic farming biological farming biodiversity based farming.

It is the method of agriculture which generates comparatively more food in harmony with the nature.

If the current high input oriented chemical agriculture be labelled

"green revolution", then organic farming supplemented by biodiversity and positive biotechnology (including vermitechnology) easy enough for the farming communities the world over to understand and implement would be labeled as the "evergreen revolution". However, the global approach to land use planning must be strictly and sustainably addressed to.

AN EXAMPLE OF ORGANIC FARMING CONVERTED TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (IN RICE) IN THREE YEARS TIME

Farmer: - Pitambar Jena Village: - MangalpurDistrict: - Mayurbhanj (Orissa)

Soil type: - Sandy loam, Period of organic management – since 2001

Crop:-Rice Variety: - Kasturi (HYV), Cultivation under study: -kharif 2004 – 05

Area under cultivation: - 1214 sq.mts.(30dec.,approximately- 1 bigha)

Ingredients applied (@ as below since 2001)

 

1. 1. Sesbania (dhanicha)- 3 kg (@ of 10 kg/acre), incorporated at pre flowering stage.

 

 

2. 2. Pongam oil cake--- 45 kg (@ 1.5 qntls./acre), applied at the time pudling (with dhanicha).

 

 

1. 3.

Farm yard manure – 3 qntls.( @ 10 qntls/acre) applied at the time sowing of dhanicha seeds(after 2nd ploughing)

2. .

    

 

1. 4. Stocked cow urine as collected from the cattle shed with soil and applied in the field – in 2 applications ( at the time of 1st T D and 2nd T D )- 1.2 qntls (@ 4 qntls/acre).

 

 

2. 5. Regular fresh dilute(1:9) cow urine applications-from panicle initiation till ripening of paddy seeds.(cow urine – N= 78 / 83 ppm; P = 8.18 –/9.73 ppm ; K = 387.5 / 385.5 ppm

 

with reference to Jersey and native cow respectively ).

Soil fertility Index as observed-

Time of sample collection N(kg/ha) P(kg/ha) K(kg/ha)

-------------------------------- ----------------- --------------- --------------------

Initial soil fertility -------- 283.7 42.6 168.3

45 days after transplantation 458.2 45.8 273.6

75 -do- -do- 462.1 39.9 260.1

After harvesting of crop 393.6 35.2 254.7

 

 

Inference on applications of captive conditions:-

 

1. 1. In each pot 5 mother plants were transplanted which amounted to one hill. Assuming that there are 30 number of hills per square metre, it would work out to 1,21,410 number of hills in an acre, as an acre is 4047 square meters. The yield in pot no. 31, if replicated in field condition would yield Q.48.56 quintals per acre. However the applications made in the pots is difficult to simulate in field condition, hence, the yield in field condition would be little less.

 

 

2. 2. There is no correlation between yield of grain and straw.

 

 

3. 3. The best application to enhance soil fertility in order to achieve highest yield potentials, it is recommended to simulate that of pot no. 31,i,e., Sesbania + Vermicompost + Azolla + Neem oil cake + Bacterial fertilizers + Cow urine(all in 3 doses,basal,1st.TD & 2nd.TD)

    

    

4. 4. In sustainability of the practice, bacterial fertilizers is a purchased input, however, the same would not be required in the long run. Besides, Neem oil cake also a purchased input can be replaced by ground Neem kernel at one third proportions. Thus all purchased inputs can be replaced by internal inputs. When this is so done, the practice becomes sustainable and yield enhanced.

 

CHANGES IN SOIL FERTILITY INDEX WITH REFERENCE TO N P K AFTER INCORPORATION OF DIFFERENT GREEN LEAF MANURES

 

Study undertaken by a team at FM (Auto.) College, Balasore (Orissa) with UGC assistance.

Nutrient Initial Soil Neem Leaf Moringa Leaf Water Hyacinth Cassia Leaf Pongam Leaf

Name fertility (Azadirachata) (Eichornia) (Pongamia)

-------- ----------- ---------------- --------------- ------------------- -------------- ---------------

Nitrogen

(Kg/ha) 269.7 291.64 310.46 299.48 294.48 303.36

Phosphorus

(Kg/ha) 61.9 62.3 62.5 62 62.7 63

Potash

(Kg/ha) 561.25 591.36 598.08 608.83 596.73 594.04

Methods followed: N= Subiah & Asija, (Kjeldahl Appt.) P= Olsen, (Spectro photometer) &

& Apparatus used: K= Ammonium acetate, (MP based digital flame photometer)

Assessment of Nutrient status of Worm cast soil collected from different sites Conducted by a team at FM (Auto.) College, Balasore, (Orissa) with UGC assistance

About the Author

Author is an avid natrure analyst,has worked on & written books,research papers and short & large articles on several aspects of the nature such as farming,forest,food and water etc.

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