Syed Nabeel Hussain 9459 Technology Innovation Strategy

1. Future of farming and how an individual can
start farming from home
Syed Nabeel Hussain
9459

2. Future of farming
• If agriculture is to continue to feed the world, it needs to become
more like manufacturing, says Geoffrey Carr.
• Fortunately, that is already beginning to happen.
• Feeding the world sustainably requires that we protect the ecological
resources that are essential for producing food now and in the future.
• World hunger is not a problem of supply, but rather of poverty, lack of
democracy and unequal access to land, water and other resources.

3. Challenges for future farming
• World population is increasing rapidly now 6.5 billion may rise to 10 billion
• Food production has to keep pace with population
• Quantity
• Quality, largely a balanced protein, mineral and energy intake
• Protein availability critical for health and well being of people.
• Demand for food is increasing
• Unsustainable use of natural production factors such as soil, biological
diversity and water
• Agriculture is insufficiently prepared to cope with unpredictability and
adaptation to climate change

4. Key Success Factors for Future Farming
• Success requires increased public and private investment in
Agricultural Knowledge Science and Technology
• An interdisciplinary and Agro-ecosystems approach to knowledge
production and sharing will be important
• Healthy fruits which are easily cultivable should be promoted (E.g.
Breadfruit Tree)
• Focus on organic agriculture
• Focus on natural resource management
• Increased productivity in sustainable manner

5. Solutions for soil and food improvement
• Recycling organic residues
• Improve soil structure and quality
• Water conservation and water use efficiency
• Adoption of diversified cropping systems, indigenous foods
• Agro-forestry and mixed farming
• Use of micronutrient rich fertilisers
• Inoculating soils for improved Biological Nitrogen Fixation

6. Organic Agriculture and Soil Quality
• The organically treated soils were physically more stable, contained smaller
amounts of soluble nutrients and were found to be biologically more active
than conventional. (DOK trials, Mäder et al., 2002)
• Under organic farming the soil organic matter captures and retains more
water in the crop root zone. Water capture in organic fields can also be
100% higher than in conventional fields during torrential rains. (Rodale
Institute, 2008)
• Organic farmers use more Agro-ecological methods:
• Mixed crop rotations, intercropping, …
• Grasslands and green manure,
• Habitats and non-farmed areas
• Non-chemical pest management

7. Potentials of Organic Agriculture
• Competitive productivity in low input
• Improved farm economy (less costly inputs and premium prices)
• Improved food security (availability, access, stability, utilization)
• Improved soil health (fertility, stability, water-holding capacity)
• Improved biodiversity and landscape preservation
• Reduced risk of pesticide toxication and residues in food
• Reduced nutrient lossess from intensive systems
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation

8. How individual can start farm from home
• Checklist
• Research is required
• Experience required
• Knowledge about land and resources available
• Costing and Finance
• Marketing strategies (if farm is for business)
• Equipment
• Planning
• Location
• Weather
• Technlogy

9. How individual can start farm from home
• Key points:
• Will it be for profits or community?
• What are your profit goals? i.e. how much income do you need from the
farm?
• What are your goals for enhancing and/or maintaining your quality of life?
• Do you have goals of how your farm will maintain or improve the natural
resources and environment?
• How much do you plan to sell (sales volume)?
• How many hours do you plan to work?
• How many people will be working on the farm/ will you have employees?
• How do you plan to measure customer satisfaction?

10. Steps to Start a farm from home
• Learn about farming
• Decide what kind of farming you want
• Decide what crops are suitable for the environmental conditions
• Design and plan your farm
• Plan your small farm business
• Start your small farm