All syllabus of farming system.

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Farming Systems and Sustainable Agriculture
(AGL604)
Mr. Rohitashv Nagar
Assistant Professor & HOD
Department of Agronomy
School of Agricultural Sciences
Career Point University, Kota (Raj.)

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Farming system
Definition: Framing system represent an appropriate combination of farm enterprises
viz. Cropping system, livestock, poultry, fisheries, forestry and the means available
to the farmer to raise them for increasing profitability. They interact adequately with
environment without dislocating the ecological and socio-economic balance on the
one hand attempt to meet the national goals on the other.
These farming systems will be based on three technical principles:
• simultaneous achievement of increased agricultural productivity and enhancement of
natural capital and ecosystem services;
• higher rates of efficiency in the use of key inputs, including water, nutrients,
pesticides, energy, land and labour;
• use of managed and natural biodiversity to build system resilience to abiotic, biotic
and economic stresses.

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Advantages of farming system:
1. Optimum and sustainable production
2. High farm profitability
3. Resiliency to climate change effects
4. Optimized ecosystem function
5. Reduced emission of greenhouse gases and carbon footprint from agriculture
industry.
Factors affecting farming system:
• HUMAN FACTORS IN AGRICULTURE
• Population size leads to larger areas of cultivation and competition for land.

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• Farming techniques. In developed countries, modern techniques, which include
mechanisation and fertilizers, have increased production. In less developed
countries, traditional techniques keep production lower.
• Globalisation. Economic globalization means countries can sell their production
to other countries. Producers must compete in quality and price. This leads to
intensive production techniques.
• Environmental policies aim to protect the environment and guarantee safe,
healthy food. Policies regulate irrigation, use of fertilizers, pesticides and
treatment of waste.

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• PHYSICAL FACTORS IN AGRICULTURE
Climate: Some crops grow better in one climatic zone than in others. In general, plants
cannot grow in areas with very high temperatures (above 45°C) or very low ones
(below 10°C). They cannot grow in areas with too little rain or too much rain.
Soil: Plants need soil with certain characteristics. The grain size and porosity of the soil
affect the amount of oxygen the soil contains, and its ability to retain water. The
chemical and biological composition of soil determines its degree of acidity and the
quantity of mineral nutrients and organic matter.

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Crop diversification: Crop diversification refers to the addition of new crops. or cropping systems to
agricultural production on a farm. By diversifying, farmers increase the range of potential food. And
income sources available to them.
– Scope for crop diversification, intensification and value addition to agricultural produce.
– Sector has capacity to absorb labor force and to generate income.
– Scope for reducing yield gaps exists.
– Agricultural sector is the single largest contributor to GDP.
– Crop production system is highly labor-intensive and there is an abundance of labor in the country.
– Agricultural commodities have comparatively higher value addition than non- agricultural
commodities.
• Now a day our country is exporting many of our local product to many foreign countries, it is very
much hopeful for us.

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Advantages:
1. Better use of land, labour and capital: Better area land through adoption of crop
rotations, steady employment of farm and family labour and more profitable use of
equipment are obtained in diversified farming.
2. The farmer and labour engaged all the year round in different activities.
3. Less risk to crop failure and market price of the product.
4. The by products of this farm can utilize properly as cattle, poultry, birds, etc. are
reared with crop production.
5. Regular and quicker return is obtained from various enterprises.
6. Soil erosion can be checked as land kept under cultivated throughout the year.
8. Diversified farming is less risky than specialized farming.
9. Best use of all equipments.

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Introduction:
• Consumers are increasingly concerned with how their food is grown and
processed. The largest component within the supply chain is the production
of the food itself - agriculture. Food processors and retailers need long-term
and ever-increasing supplies of quality raw materials.
• Unpredictable weather extremes and global water scarcity make agricultural
production and food processing increasingly volatile. Sustainable
agricultural practices help ensure businesses along the entire supply chain
have reliable sources of product. At the same time, reliability creates new
opportunities for enhanced branding to meet consumer demand. Sustainable
sourcing is a point of differentiation in the marketplace, and retailers are
increasingly looking to farmers to provide sustainably produced products.

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Sustainable Agriculture:
• The successful management of resources for agriculture to satisfy changing human needs while
maintaining or enhancing the (Natural resource- base and avoiding environmental degradation).
• A Current concept of sustainable Agriculture in the United States showing the ends and the means
of achieving them through low- input methods and skilled management is shown in.
• 1. Reduceduse of synthetic 7. Crop rotations
• 2. Chemical inputs 8.Use of Organic wastes
• 3. Biological pest control 9.Crop- livestock
• diversification
• 4. Soil and water conservation
• practices 10. Mechanical cultivation
• 5. Use of animal and green 11. Naturally occurring
• manures processes
• 6. Biotechnology

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Goals of sustainable Agriculture:
• A sustainable Agriculture, therefore, is any system of food or fiber production that
systematically pursues the following goals:
• A more thorough incorporation of natural processes such as nutrient cycling nitrogen
fixation and pest-predator relationships into agricultural production processes:
• A reduction in the use of those off-farm, external and non-renewable inputs with the
greatest potential to damage the environment or harm the health of farmers and
consumers, and more targeted use of the remaining inputs used with a view to
minimizing variable costs:
• The full participation of farmers and rural people in all processes of problem analysis
and technology development, adoption and extension.
• A more equitable access to predictive resources and opportunities, and progress
towards more socially just forms of Agriculture:

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• A greater productive use of the biological and genetic potential of plant and animal
species:
• A greater productive use of local knowledge and practices, including innovation in
approaches not yet fully understood by scientists or widely adopted by farmers:
• An increase in self-reliance among farmers and rural people
• An improvement in the match between cropping patterns and the productive potential
and environmental constraints of climate and landscape to ensure long-term
sustainability of current production levels.
• Profitable and efficient production with an emphasis on integrated form management:
and the conservation of soil, water, energy and biological resources

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Major components of sustainable agriculture:
a) Soil conservation- Many soil conservation methods, including contour cultivates contour
bunding, graded bunding, vegetative barriers, strip cropping cover cropping, reduced
tillage etc help prevent loss of soil due to wind and water erosion.
b) Crop diversity- Growing a greater variety of crops on a farm can help reduce risks from
extremes in weather, market conditions or crop pests. Increased diversity crops and other
plants, such as trees and shrubs, also can contribute to soil conservation, wildlife habitat
and increased populations of beneficial insects.
c) Nutrient management- Proper management of nitrogen and other plant nutrients con
improve the soil and protect environment. Increased use of farm nutrient sources such as
manure and leguminous cover crops, also reduces purchased fertilizer costs.
d) Integrated pest management (IPM)- IPM is a sustainable approach to managing pests by
combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in way that minimizes
economic, health and environmental risks.

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e) Cover crops- Growing plant such as sun hemp, horse gram, pillipesara in the off season after
harvesting a grain or vegetable crop can provide several benefits, including weed suppression,
erosion control, and improved soil nutrients and soil quality .
f) Rotational grazing- New management- intensive grazing systems take animals out barn into the
pasture to provide high-quality forage and reduced feed cost.
g) Water quality & water conservation- Water conservation and protection have important part of
Agricultural stewardship. Many practices have been develop conserve Viz., deep ploughing,
mulching, micro irrigation techniques etc. protect quality of drinking and surface water .
h) Agro forestry- Trees and other woody perennials are often underutilized on covers a range of
practices Viz., silive-pastoral, agri-silvi-pagri-horticulture, horti/silvipastoral, alley cropping, tree
farming , lay farm that help conserve, soil and water.
i) Marketing- Farmers across the country are finding that improved marketing way to enhance
profitability, direct marketing of agricultural product from farmers to consumers is becoming much
more common.

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Three pillars of sustainability:
1. Economic
2. Environmental
3. Social
• Economic: The people in the western world are heavy consumers. In fact,
we consume far more than our fair share. Meanwhile, the people in
developing countries are exploding in population and some are aspiring to
have high-consumption lifestyles too. We need a sustainable economic
model that ensures fair distribution and efficient allocation of our resources.
This pillar ensures that our economic growth maintains a healthy balance
with our ecosystem.

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• Environmental: We take our natural resources for granted and sometimes we forget
that those resources are not unlimited. More importantly, our planet must be
protected from corporate exploitation and neglect. This pillar supports initiatives
like: renewable energy, reducing fossil fuel consumption and emissions, sustainable
agriculture and fishing, organic farming, tree planting and reducing deforestation,
recycling, and better waste management.
• Social: As a global citizen, we must never turn a blind eye to social disruptions that
threaten the well-being of people and our environment. We have an ethical
responsibility to do something about human inequality, social injustice, and poverty.
This pillar supports initiatives like peace, social justice, reducing poverty, and other
grassroots movements that promote social equity.

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• Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture:
1. It does not advocate for the use of chemicals and commercial fertilizers.
2. This reduces certain harmful effects on the environment that can pollute it.
3. This preserves the natural ecosystem, thus, healthy produce.
4. It promotes the culture of raising animals through feeding on natural feeds.
5. There is better protection of animal species, creating a natural balance in the ecosystem.
6. Farmers are able to bring up healthy animals.
7. These can fetch the best prices in the market.
8. Biodiversity is yet another advantage of sustainable agriculture.
9. It advocates for the production of various kinds of plant and animal species
10.Plants are cultivated in rotations.

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• Disadvantages of sustainable agriculture:
– It limits the proper use of land.
– It also hinders the full exploitation of land, labor and capital.
– This is because it advocates for the use of productive resources sparingly.
– It is also hard to maintain the fertility of soil by simply rotating crops.
– Income that is generated from farming is also very limited due to sparingly use of
land.

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• Adverse effects of modern high- input agriculture
• Overuse of natural resources, causing depletion of groundwater and loss of forests, wild
habitats, and of their capacity to absorb water, causing water logging and increased
salinity:
• Contamination of the atmosphere by ammonia, nitrous oxide, methane and the products of
burning, which play a role in ozone depletion, global warming and atmospheric pollution:
• Contamination of food and fodder by residues of pesticides, nitrates and antibiotics.
• Contamination of water by pesticides, nitrates, soil and livestock water, causing harm to
wildlife, disruption of ecosystems and possible health problems in drinking water;

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• Build up of resistance to pesticides in pests and diseases
• including herbicide resistance in weeds
• Damage of farm and natural resources by pesticides, causing
• harm to farm workers and public, disruption of ecosystems and
• harm to wildlife.
• Erosion of genetic diversity – the tendency in agriculture to
• standardize and specialize by focusing on modern varieties,
• causing the displacement of traditional varieties and breeds:
• New health hazards for workers in the agrochemical and foodprocessing
• industries

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Land, Water & Crop Production Related Problems
(A) ENVIRONEMTNTAL POLLUTION:
• Greenhouse effect
The earth receives energy from the sun, which warms the earth’s
surface, as this energy passes through the atmosphere, a certain
percentage (about 30) gets scattered. Some part of this energy is
reflected back into the atmosphere from the land and ocean surface.
The rest (70%) actually remains behind to heat the earth. In order to
establish a balance, therefore, the earth must radiate some energy
back into the atmosphere.

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certain gases in the atmosphere form a sort of blanket around the earth and
absorb some of this energy emitted back into the atmosphere. Without this
blanket effect, the earth would be around 30 C colder than it normally is.
These gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, along with
water vapour, comprise less than one per cent of the atmosphere. They are
called “greenhouse gases”, The greenhouse effect is essentially a positive,
life-giving process that maintains the earth’s temperature at levels tolerable
by its life forms.

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Depletion of Ozone layer:
The earth atmosphere is made of numerous gases. In 1983. C.F.Schonbein
first discovered the presence of ozone molecules in the central part of the
atmosphere between altitudes of 15-35 km (from the ground level) in the
stratosphere and that it absorbed the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. The
ozone layer by absorbing the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun determines
the temperature structure of the stratosphere and safeguards life on the
planet. It is believed that for millions of years the atmospheric composition
had not undergone much change. However, in the past half-century humans
have upset the delicate balance of nature by releasing into the atmosphere
harmful chemicals that are gradually destroying the lie protecting layer.

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It listed the substances, which cause depletion of the ozone and called for
about 50% reduction of CFCs by the year 2000. Chloroflorocarbon or CFC
is said to be one of the main gases responsible for the depletion of ozone
layer and greenhouse effect.
Methane Emission from Rice Fields:
Wetland rice fields have recently been identified as a major source of
atmospheric methane. Methane is produced as the terminal step of the
anaerobic breakdown of organic matter in wetland rice soils. In a natural
wetland, flooding a rice field cuts off the oxygen supply from the
atmosphere to the soil, which results in anaerobic fermentation of soil
organic matter.

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Pollution due to excessive nitrate in soil:
Nitrate can be absorbed by crop plants, lost beyond the rooting zone of the
crops via leaching or denitrified to N2O gases. Nitrate leaching below the
root zone of crop constitutes a potential pollution threat for surface and
groundwater bodies. The production of N2O through nitrification-
denitrification reaction represents a potential danger in terms of damage to
both stratospheric ozone layer and the greenhouse effect. Nitrate can also be
absorbed in large amounts by plants, particularly fodders and vegetables,
and result in nitrate toxicity to the consumers. Thus a majority of the
environmental issues related to N-use in agriculture revolve around
transformations leading to the production of nitrate in soil.

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Nitrate pollution of groundwater:
Two major factors controlling the leaching losses of nitrate are (i) the
concentration of nitrate in the soil profile at the time of leaching, and (ii) the
quantity of water passing through the soil profile. High soil nitrate levels
and sufficient downward movement of water to move nitrate below the
rooting depth is often encountered in high intensity irrigated agriculture
combined high levels of nitrate-N can lead to methemoglobinemia (blue
baby syndrome) particularly in infants (< 6 months old). The WHO standard
for drinking water is 10 mg NO3- N/L. The effects of nitrate on livestock
are similar to those on human beings.

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Eutrophication:
• Eutrophication refers to the process of enrichment of watercourses or surface water
bodies by inorganic plant nutrients. Estimates indicate that more than 72% of the N
entering surface waters originates from a agricultural lands. Both N and P are
important in stimulating eutrophication. This artificial eutrophication has already
happened in many parts of the world including India. Causes of eutrophication
include natural run-off of nutrients from the soil and the weathering of rocks,
accelerated runoff of inorganic fertilizer & manures (containing nitrates and
phosphates) from agricultural lands, runoff from areas following mining,
construction work or poor land use, discharge of detergents (containing phosphates)
through domestic wastewater.

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Insecticides:
In almost all the soils that have been surveyed for insecticide residues in India,
the most common chemical, and the one that is found in the largest amounts is
DDT, followed by HCH. In a study in Punjab, out of 106 soil samples, 91 were
found contaminated with insecticide residues. The highest level of 0.08 mg/g
DDT-R was found in cotton growing areas, which is four times its permitted
level of 0.02 mg/g. Pesticide residues in food items, which are on the increase,
have become a matter of threat to man. Even small quantities of these residues
ingested daily along with food can build-up high levels in the body fat.

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Fungicides:
The residues of fungicides based on the inorganic compounds of sulphur, copper, and
mercury accumulate in soil because the heavy metals contained in them are
irreversibly adsorbed on soil colloids. Under certain conditions, toxicity from the
accumulation of copper and sulphur containing fungicides may render the soil
useless for growing crops and cause significant yield depressions.
Herbicides: In intensive and diversified cropping rotation systems, the herbicide
applied to one crop may persist in the soil at concentrations high enough to damage
the subsequent sensitive crops. Under Indian conditions, when a herbicide dose of
0.5 to 2.0 kg/ha is applied, it results in a buildup of residues in the range of 0.25 to
1.0 mg/g/, which is safely below the potential residual effect.

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Management
Control measures to reduce pesticide pollution
• Application of easily decomposable organic matter
• Use of large quantities of organic manures
• Raising high N cover crops
• Growing of crop plants that a tendency to accumulate the pesticide
• Follow soil management practices leading to increased leaching of pesticides
• Adoption of biological control methods
• Need based plant protection

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• Measures to reduce artificial eutrophicaion
• Reducing the use of phosphates as builders in detergents.
• Reducing the use of nitrate containing fertilizers.
• Using tertiary sewage treatment methods to remove phosphate and nitrate before
discharging the effluent into rivers and lakes.
• Directing waste water away from lakes to safe treatment & disposal sites.

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• Mitigation options
• Prevent of submergence of rice fields where ever feasible without affecting the rice
productivity.
• Increased adoption of direct seeding instead of transplanting.
• Crop diversification in rice based cropping systems.
• Water management- intermittent drying and mid-season drainage in controlled water
situations.
• Growing rice cultivars having traits with low methane emission potential.
• Use of sulfate-containing fertilizer reduces methane emission.
• Minimization of soil disturbance during growing season to reduce escape of entrapped
methane.

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Management Practices
1. Watershed Management: The important developmental activities
in watershed management for drylands are soil and moisture
conservation measures, land use based on land capability,
wasteland management aforestation and efficient crop production
practices.
2. Tillage: Tillage practices used in sustainable agriculture aim at
reducing soil degradation, improving weed control and helping in
timely decomposition of organic matter.

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A common aim is to provide optimal conditions for beneficial soil
organisms, thereby enhancing organic matter decomposition and
nutrient recycling. Managing the top 8 cm of soil is vital because most
of the biological activity, microorganisms and organic matter is in this
layer.
3. Nutrient Management: Nutrients needed for the crop are met from
organic sources. Sustainable agriculture mainly depends on soil
organic matter for nutrient supply through FYM, compost and green
manures. In the initial stage of conversion from chemical farming to

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Organic farming, supplemental fertilizer application is necessary until
equilibrium of nutrient cycles are established.
4. Efficient water management: Water management can be subdivided
into rain water management and irrigation water management. The
important aspects of rain water management are water harvesting,
supplemental irrigation and reduction of evapotranspiration.
Irrigation water management involves scheduling irrigation at
appropriate time with adequate quantity of water without causing
water logging, salinity and alkalinity.

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5. Weed Management: Weed control methods include cultural,
physical, biological and chemical method. In sustainable agriculture,
cultural, physical and biological methods are given greater importance.
Weeds are generally controlled by rotation, tillage and hand-weeding.
6. Pest Management: Occurrence of insects and diseases are less in
organic farming probably due to greater plant and insect diversity within
the redesigned agro-ecosystem. The incidence of livestock disease is
much lower than in conventional farming.

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Integrated pest control which combines cultural and biological
methods and use of resistance varieties reduce dependence on
ecologically aggressive chemical pesticides.
7. Crop Rotation: The selection of optimal crop rotation is important
for successful sustainable agriculture. Crop rotation is very
important for soil fertility management, weed, insect and disease
control. Legumes are essential in any rotation and should comprise
30 to 50 % of the crop land .

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High External Input Agriculture (HEIA):
The basic aspect of conventional agriculture was to maintain subsistence level
production by using locally available resources. All resources had been
naturally recycled and reuse without wasting. But due to pressure of
increasing population in developing countries state were taken to expedite
food production deviating from the traditional pattern. External resources
were used extensively in this agricultural system. Many of the resources
used in high external input agriculture were not recycled. To maintain long
term sustainability of the system regular application of external inputs was
essential.

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Advantages of high External Input Agriculture (HEIA):
1. Agricultural production could be rapidly increased to meet the demand
for food for the increasing population.
2. New improved varieties gave yields within a short period of time.
3. Mechanisation solves the problem of labour shortage.
4. Income and profit margins of the products were increased.
5. Productivity of land increased.
6. Increased market facilities for production.

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Disadvantages of high External Input Agriculture (HEIA):
1. Collapse of environmental balance due to lack of bio-diversity by
planting a few cash crops.
2. Increase in soil erosion due to constant furrowing by machinery.
3. Dependence on imported machinery, chemical fertiliser, pesticides,
hybrid seeds and other inputs.
4. External use of pesticides disturbed the natural mechanism of
controlling pest and disease as the artificial pesticides kill both pests and
their natural enemies.

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Low External Input Agriculture (LEIA): is based on reduction but not
necessarily elimination of chemical fertilisers, insecticides and herbicides.
Farmers are adapting these practices primarily to reduce costs, but also
because they want to minimise impact on the environmental or because
they perceive future pesticide regulations.
The term LEIA has been defined as a production activity that uses synthetic
fertilisers or other agro-chemicals below rates commonly recommended.
It does not mean elimination of these materials. Yields are maintained
through greater emphasis on cultural practices, IPM and utilisation of on-
farm resources.

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Characteristics of HEIA Characteristics of LEIA
Farming pattern depends heavily on
external and chemical inputs.
LEIA relies on the optimal use of
natural processes.
Focus of agricultural development
and research has mainly been on
maximising yields with increasing
specialisation of production.
Focus is on the sustainability of
farming system.

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There is great damage to the environment. Environmentally sound and that have the
potential to contribute to the long term
sustainability of agriculture
HEIA depends on the higher production and
profit, without consideration of the local
needs and local market.
Sustainable ecological practices depend
largely on local agro-ecological conditions
and on local socio-economic
circumstances, as well as on farmers.
Under HEIA system, soil quality deteriorates
and there is resurgence of pests, lack of
resilience in the soil plant system.
LEIA maintains a healthy soil, recycling
nutrients on the farm and utilising
approaches such as IPM.

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