No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Ecological agriculture in South-India : an agro-economic comparison and study of transition
Abstract
This report describes two research programmes carried out on ecological agriculture in South-India. Experiences of twelve farmers in transition towards ecological agriculture are described and analysed. The comparative performance of seven farmer pairs, consisting of one ecological and one conventional reference farm, is analysed in relation to agronomic and economic performance
... Comparative studies for a number of developed countries showed, that total variable costs are typically between 10 and 60% lower in organic agriculture, mainly depending on the crop (Padel & Lampkin 1994:207). Similar findings have been made for many developing countries including India (Mazhar et al. 2001, Altieri et al 1998, Van der Werf & De Jager 1991, UNDP 1992:172, FAO 2003b:312, Meyer-Renschenhausen 2002. Therefore, organic agriculture might provide a viable alternative particularly for small and marginal farmers who lack financial assets to acquire costly inputs. ...
... In contrast to the three studies examined above, Witte et al (2000), who analysed labour data from India, Nicaragua and Guatemala, found no consistent pattern of higher or lower labour requirement for either organic or conventional farming. And according to Van der Werf & De Jager (1991), labour input per hectare did not show any significant difference between conventional and organic farms in South India. ...
... which can lead to economic hardships for the farming household, in particular in the case of small and marginal farmers. Van der Werf & De Jager (1991) found that the average level of offfarm income in organic farms was twice as high as in conventional reference farms indicating that especially farmers with other sources of income were willing and able to bear the risks of conversion and experimentation. ...
... Many traditional agricultural production systems, such as agroforestry, have the potential to address natural resource management challenges, provide societal benefits, and conserve biodiversity. They create complex and diversified farmsteads with the goal of producing sustainable and longterm outputs, as in ecological or sustainable agriculture [20]. Low external input usage, integration of different life forms and sustainable intensification are the hallmarks of these cultural systems. ...
Agricultural intensification in the past has led to many land-use-related issues around the world, and nature-based solutions (NbS) in farming seek to offset those negative consequences. NbS, in addition to promoting sustainable production of goods and resources and preserving ecosystem integrity, provides a range of ecosystem services. Mixed-species systems such as agroforestry, including the coconut-based farming systems (CBFS), are excellent examples of NbS. The CBFS, which involves many sciophytic agricultural crops, not only ensures economic benefits, but also improves crop productivity. They produce a variety of food items (fruits, nuts, tubers, and so on), earning the moniker "coconut-based food forests," and have the potential to enrich agrobiodiversity. Biological carbon sequestration is another important attribute of CBFS. Crop combinations that include a variety of species, particularly tree crops, have the potential to increase carbon sequestration while also delivering diverse provisioning and cultural services. Kerala, the "Land of Coconut Trees," witnessed a "coconut boom" from 1955 to 2000, although production and area have been fluctuating since then. The functional dynamics of CBFS and the natural resource challenges they address, as well as the ecosystem services CBFS provides and the biodiversity outcomes, are reviewed in this article, with a focus on Kerala.
... Studies on ecological farming in south India showed that ecological farms produce similar levels of output as that of conventional farms (Werf et al., 1992). Krishnamurthi et al. (1995) stressed that the shelf life of fruits and vegetables increased when grown with the application of vermicompost. ...
... Hence in this study, an attempt was made to assess the knowledge of farmers about organic farming. Werf and Jager, (1992) reported that ecological farms achieve similar economic results as conventional farms, for gross margin/ha (Rs. 10620/-and 11,515/-respectively). ...
The study entitled “A multidimensional analysis of organic farming in Tamil Nadu” was conducted with the objectives, to investigate the profile characteristics of farmers practicing organic and inorganic farming and the reasons for practicing and not practicing organic farming, to identify and document the organic farming practices in paddy and banana, to assess the knowledge of organic and inorganic farmers, to undertake comparative assessment of the productivity and economic viability of crops grown with organic vis-a-vis inorganic farming, to identify the training needs of organic farmers, to analyze the constraints in organic farming and marketing of organic produce and to suggest strategies for promotion of organic farming.
A total of 240 farmers comprising 120 organic farmers and 120 inorganic farmers drawn randomly from 8 talukas of four districts namely, Kancheepuram, Erode, Dindigul and Karur in Tamil Nadu state constituted the sample for the study. The data collection was done through personal interview by the researcher using the interview schedule, while non-participant observation technique, case study, focus group discussion were also used for data collection.
Analysis of ‘Z’ test showed significant difference between profile characteristics of organic and inorganic farmers like education, livestock possession, extension orientation, mass media exposure, economic motivation, risk orientation, environmental orientation, level of aspiration and belief in organic farming. Concern for human health was the first reason for practicing organic farming and other reasons in the order of importance were improvement in health of soil, lower production cost, influence of other organic farmers, naturopathy and other organic movement, sustained farmer livelihood system, minimal negative environmental effects, etc. The reason ‘unorganized market for organically grown produce’ was ranked first for not practicing organic farming and other reasons in the order of importance were low premium for organic produce, lack of knowledge about organic farming, no experimental evidence on the cost benefit ratio of organic farming, no subsidies for organic farming etc. Organic farming practices covering all agricultural operations in paddy and banana were identified and documented. Majority of organic (67.50 %) and inorganic farmers (74.16 %) had medium level of knowledge about organic farming. The variables of organic farmers, namely education, experience in organic farming, livestock possession, social participation, extension orientation, mass media exposure, innovativeness, economic motivation, risk orientation, market orientation, decision making behavior, environmental orientation, self confidence and level of aspiration showed significant and positive relationship with knowledge. Stepwise regression analysis showed that innovativeness, market orientation, extension orientation and mass media exposure had positive influence on knowledge of organic farmers. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that age, social participation, market orientation, environmental orientation, level of aspiration and belief in organic farming had significant and positive effect on knowledge and economic motivation had negative influence on knowledge. The average yield of organic paddy (14.65 q) was lower when compared to inorganic paddy (15.87 q). Cost Benefit Ratio was lower for organic (1.05) in comparison to inorganic (1.06) paddy farming. The average yield of organic banana (875 bunches) was lower when compared to inorganic banana (920 bunches). Cost Benefit Ratio was lower for organic (1.25) in comparison to inorganic (1.34) banana farming. The training need ‘marketing of organic produce’ was ranked first and other training needs in the order of importance were certification of organic produce, introduction of bio-control agents, resistant/tolerant variety, use of different implements/equipments in agriculture, processing and storage etc. Majority of organic farmers (73.33 %) had medium level of training needs. The best place, duration, method and frequency of training were observed as Non Governmental Organizations, three days, demonstration and once in three months respectively. The constraint ‘inadequate availability of quality seeds/planting materials’ was ranked first and other constraints in the order of severity were, non availability of labour, low premium for organic produce, lack of specialized markets for organic produce, lack of farmers’ cooperatives for marketing, inadequate subsidies for organic cultivation of crops etc. The most important suggestion was ‘assurance of better price for organic produce’ and other suggestions in the order of importance were, alternative markets for organic produce with no intervention of middlemen, assuring availability of quality organic inputs at reasonable price, awareness programmes both for the producers and consumers, financial support of the government during conversion to organic farming, stop subsidies on fertilizers and other chemicals etc.
The interest in organic farming among farmers is growing in Tamil Nadu because it places more reliance on the natural and human resources available, requires less financial input and provides safe food while conserving the environment. The government, private organizations and farmers’ associations have a big role to play in the promotion of organic farming in Tamil Nadu and India.
... It reduces the disease either to an acceptable degree, or to a level where it can be controlled successfully by other cultural practices or natural biocides, less expensively. However, selected use of pesticides sometimes imposes serious problems during transition from conventional to ecological agro-management and also on the established ecological farms (Werf and Jager, 1992). ...
Abstract: This article emphasizes on the present urgent need to think in "Holistic Dimensions" to achieve a sustainable agro-ecosystem. In this respect, the complex network of dynamic interactions in the agroecosystem soil at spatiotemporal dimensions holds crucial importance. It reflects the inherent tendency of dynamic ecosystems to achieve a more efficient state successively through improved interactions. The shortsighted and inefficient agro-management during Green revolution decades has been detrimental to these interactions in agricultural soils, which is widely evident by its boomerang effects (i.e. declining efficiency, productivity and multi-functionality). It jeopardized the internal regulation in our agro-ecosystem's functioning by erosion of efficiency building interactions among biotic and abiotic components. Therefore, a bottom-up as well as top-down approach in the soil management is required to restore and sustain the unaccounted but indispensible ecological
subsidies for sustainable agriculture and development, globally. We propose a "commercial ecological agriculture" which should be an amalgamation of sustainable agricultural practices and supported by a progressive co-ordination among all the stakeholders via participatory learning and adaptation with time. It should be least-disturbing, resilience-building, resource (i.e. energy and nutrient) use efficient, site-specific, labor and skill-intensive, low-input, diversified and integrated, and intimately harmonized with nature. It may potentially provide us agricultural sustainability with time in real sense. It would be primarily based on management of interactions indirectly through
identification of integrative variables as surrogate, which may help to achieve internal regulation or self-reliance in agroecosystems. Further, it would be helpful to eliminate the widening socio-economic divide and in mitigation of global change in environment (i.e. air, water and soil)
and climate. Additionally, it would improve and restore the multifaceted potential of soil, thus quality and productivity, through improved internal regulation on resource-use efficiency.
... In recent years, there have been an increasing number of comparative studies of development projects showing that 'participation' is one of the critical components of success. It has been associated with increased mobilization of stakeholder ownership of policies and projects; greater efficiency, understanding and social cohesion; more cost-effective services; greater transparency and accountability; increased empowering of the poor and disadvantaged; and strengthened capacity of people to learn and act ( Montgomery, 1983;Paul, 1987;USAID, 1987;Baker et al, 1988;Reij, 1988;Finsterbusch and van Wicklen, 1989;Bagadion and Korten, 1991;Cernea, 1991;Guijt, 1991;Kottak, 1991;Pretty and Sandbrook, 1991;Uphoff, 1992;Narayan, 1993;World Bank, 1994). As a result, the terms 'people's participation' and 'popular participation' are now part of the normal language of many development agencies, including NGOs, government departments and banks ( Adnan et al, 1992;Bhatnagar and Williams, 1992;World Bank, 1994). ...
Emerging evidence for the success on farms of resource-conserving technologies and practices must not tempt agricultural professionals into making prescriptions about what constitutes sustainable agriculture. Sustainability is a complex and contested concept, and so precise definitions are impossible. The dominant scientific paradigm of positivism has served us well over three to four centuries, but it is not well suited to contexts where uncertainties are high, and problems are open to interpretation. Many methodological and philosophical alternatives to positivism have arisen from both the “hard” and “soft” sciences. These indicate that new understanding and solutions can only arise with wide public and scientific participation. But the term “participation” has become fashionable with many different interpretations, some hindering rather than supporting sustainability. New systems of learning are needed, using participatory methods and criteria for trustworthiness. These have profound implications for agricultural professionals, who must now actively create a whole new professionalism.
The rapid growth of human population on globe and reduction in agricultural land exerts huge pressure on crop productivity, food security and soil health; specially, in developing countries. Improper land management with excessive dependency on chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals to secure productivity tolls on human health, environment, biodiversity and sustainability. The utilization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as bio-fertilizer and in consortia with other beneficial microbes has become an increasing area of research in agriculture and life sciences. Former investigations revealed the positive influence of AM in nutrition, growth, yield of crops, soil quality increasing biological soil fertility and pathogen resistance. AMF symbionts are highly beneficial in plant abiotic stress tolerance. Along with other beneficial rhiozobacteria AM is almost substitute of chemical fertilizers in modern sustainable organic agricultural systems. But conventional agriculture in most countries is beyond to reach these benefits of AM. The issues which hinder the utilization also contradict to sustainability to some degrees. The present review highlights on the issues of hindrances in applicability of AM to the agricultural fields focusing on the mode of functions, maintaining soil and environmental sustainability; interactions with other biofertilizers and impact of various agrochemicals and agro-practices including tillage and crop rotation. The procedures to avail the full benefit of AM in agricultural field for sustainable system are discussed here.
Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental problems in the world today and with decreased soil fertility causes the destruction of our natural ecosystems like pastures, forests and agricultural ecosystems (Bayramin et al., 2003). In an overview of global erosion and sedimentation more than 50% of the world’s forestland and about 80% of agricultural land suffer from significant erosion, Pimental et al., (1995). In India, about 53% of the total land area is prone to erosion and has been estimated that about 5,334 metric tons of soil is being detached annually due to various reasons (Narayana and Babu, 1983). Soil erosion is one of the most widespread forms of land degradation resulting from changes in land use. Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as settlements and semi-natural habitats such as arable fields, pastures, and managed woods. Land use is one of the most important factors influencing soil erosion because of its effects on variations in surface roughness, the organic content of soil, the soil structure and infiltration rate and the hydraulic connectivity within a catchment, all of which make important contributions to the spatial and temporal dynamics of hill slope hydrology and sediment production, transport and delivery to rivers. Land use and soil management practices influence the soil nutrients and related soil processes, such as erosion, oxidation, mineralization, and leaching, etc (Liu et al., 2010). As a result, it can modify the processes of transport and re-distribution of nutrients.
India produces a large variety of food crops including cereals, pulses, and oilseeds. In the name of increased productivity, indiscriminate application of an enormous quantity of chemical fertilizers is being followed keeping the health factor at bay. Hence an alternative method of farming is of urgent need which could satisfy the needs of increased food production as well as providing security against any potential health problem. Organic farming has been proved as a solution to both of these problems. Also since the need for the prerequisites for organic farming is less as compared to chemical farming, therefore, in a country like India where the agriculture is highly influenced by the vagaries of various biotic and abiotic factors, organic farming is capable enough to provide economic security to the mediocre farmers as well. However, with the policies implemented by the government of India to encourage organic farming regarding the commencement, implementation and the marketing of organic food products as well as the increasing demand of the organic products in the domestic as well as international market, there is ample scope for organic food industries to expand and generate revenue for strengthening the Indian economy.
The comparative performance of seven farm pairs in South-India, consisting of one ecological and one conventional reference farm, is analyzed in relation to agronomic and economic performance. The first interim results of the study indicate that both for farmers and society the short-term needs for food and cash income can be successfully combined with many of the long-term needs for sustainability.
The unprecedented growth in volume and variety of media in any country undoubtedly creates need for trained human resources. Most Asian countries including India have history of state-supported media education institutions coming to life in the post-colonial era. It was in fifties and sixties that these countries began their journey mainly in form of journalism education under State sponsorship. Unlike Western trajectory of media education that began in forties and successfully and self-reflectively created journalism education separate from other forms of media/ communication education like film, television or new media studies, Indian as well as most Asian countries have contradictions in nomenclature and scope.
Post nineties private media education institutions have sprung up across Asia including in India. The state-sponsored initiatives are losing ground. The newer processes are impacting the purpose, pedagogy, profile of teachers and learners. This in turn is changing the nature of media. This paper examines journey of Indian communication/media education and reviews implications and consequences of present processes of privatisation and profiteering on society. The paper concludes that the future of media as well as representation of society in media will change with the present status of communication/media education in India.
This review paper attempts to bring together different issues in the light of recent developments in organic farming. The after effects of green revolution have encouraged the farmers to take up organic farming. This paper has reviewed the global and Indian scenario with reference to organic farming. In India, the cultivated land under certification is 2.8 Mha only. The key issues emerging in organic farming include yield reduction in conversion to organic farm, soil fertility enhancement, integration of livestock, certification constraints, ecology, marketing and policy support. The potential for organic farming, especially in the dryland regions has been discussed. It has been argued that organic farming is productive and sustainable, but there is a need for strong support to it in the form of subsidies, agricultural extension services and research.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.