Farmers who were leading a self reliant and honourable life, have been facing many problems in agriculture during the past decade. These problems relate to decreasing land productivity owing to soil and water erosion, declining natural resource base, fast changing food habits and lifestyles, ecological disproportions and globalisation. In many cases they were forced to sell away their lands and migrate to cities to earn their livelihood.
Production for the far off markets necessitated use of external inputs like chemical fertilizers, hybrid seeds, pesticides, irrigation etc. Increased dependency on high cost external inputs in agriculture also made farmers to depend on external credit on a regular basis. Dependence on credit for agriculture, a matter of —–(shame??) during 1960s, became an absolute necessity by 2000. Cultivation of cash crops like cotton and tobacco, also caused scarcity of fodder. This resulted in farmers giving up animal husbandry, thereby resulting in acute scarcity of farmyard manure and making the use of chemical fertilizers inevitable. Adoption of modern technologies in agriculture like tractors and pump sets have resulted in the neglect of draught animals. Even the livestock production has been totally changed into industrial type of production from backyard system.
Agriculture in India, was and an integrated cultivation of crops, animals and trees to meet most of the family and community needs than market. Trees played an important role in providing green manure, fodder, fruits, fuel and timber besides conserving soil water and hosting beneficial insects and birds. We had more than 15 species of cereals which were drought and pest resistant and were more nutritious. It is necessary to revive the traditional knowledge on seed selection and preservation to bring back the self reliance and seed availability at the time of sowing.
Animals provide manure, food and income and are used for cultivation and transport economically. Different animals can be fed on farm wastes efficiently which provide financial security at the time of distress. In Indian culture, cattle are treated as an integral part of the family. After undergoing the huge loses from adapting crossbred cows like Holstein, Frisien and Jersey, farmers are fast changing towards indigenous cattle, since their maintenance is cheaper and the male calves can be used for cultivation and transport.
Similarly, rural population is fast changing their medical treatments since synthetic drugs have become more expensive and found to create side effects. They now started growing medicinal plants like Neem, Aswagandha, Asphargus, Alovera, Adathoda etc., for medication of both humans and their livestock. Some NGOs are educating them about their cultivation, processing and use.
The Governments concern of impending scarcity of fossil fuel resources is an encouraging factor for promotion of ecological agriculture. However, the fear of lower food production and availability of bio-mass is coming in the way of progressing towards organic farming. Cuba’s success in providing food scarcity and sovereignty and total agricultural productivity is an example for what could done if the political will is there. In Cuba, during 1993-2003, ecological farming system was enforced, making them self sufficient in their food production. Importance was given to the regeneration of their traditional agriculture knowledge and use of locally available natural resources. Understanding the importance of cow dung in agriculture, Cuba was the first country in the world to ban cow slaughtering.
The goal of Organic farming, therefore, should be based on economic interests by popularizing production of seeds, vermi compost, botanical pesticides etc., among small farmers, so that they could make their livelihoods at their own villages, rather than migrating to cities.
L.Narayana Reddy
Srinivasapura, Via. Maralenahalli
Hanabe P.O. Doddaballapura 561 203
Ph: 080-27601103
