Sustainable development states that development should meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs in a way that protects Earth’s ecosystems. Sustainable agriculture development is when agriculture implements sustainable agriculture practices such as recycling waste for agricultural purposes in order to improve the environment and produce higher quality food through organic farming methods. This method of agriculture does not damage the environment or future generations’ access to clean water sources or arable land.
What are some ways agriculture can become sustainable?
In order for agriculture to become sustainable, it is important to be environmentally friendly through energy-efficient machinery and using renewable sources such as solar/ wind power. In addition, agricultural waste should be recycled in order to reduce greenhouse gases. Furthermore, agriculture should focus on being socially inclusive by providing communities with clean drinking water instead of contaminating groundwater with pesticides or fertilizers through developing drip irrigation techniques. If these changes are implemented, there will be a surplus in agriculture which will lead towards a healthier economy and environment.
Why is it important to Sustainable agriculture development?
Sustainable agriculture is important because agriculture is responsible for feeding most of the world’s population. Agriculture is directly related to driving industrial growth and is very beneficial as it absorbs a large portion of the labour force. However, agriculture needs to improve its use of resources and environmental management in order to become sustainable. If agriculture was sustainable, it would improve Pakistan’s economy through exports as well as help reduce poverty by bringing more money into rural areas. Furthermore, if agriculture is sustainable then the industry will not be forced to increase pollutants into the air which contributes to global warming.
What are the types of agriculture??
There are two types of agriculture that deal with agriculture on a global scale. One type of sustainable agriculture is conventional agriculture which often uses fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to increase crop productivity. While the other type is organic agriculture which only uses natural pest control methods such as crop rotation. Furthermore, organic agriculture does not use synthetic fertilizers or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Who has implemented sustainable agriculture development?
There are many countries that have implemented sustainable agriculture, however, some of them include Costa Rica; Denmark; Slovakia; France; Canada; Australia, etc. The countries that have implemented sustainable agriculture also focus on using clean energy sources such as wind/ solar power, recycling waste into manure for agricultural purposes, banning harmful pesticides and herbicides, and banning GMOs.
How has agriculture changed over the years?
A hundred years ago, agriculture was mainly subsistence agriculture which meant that people produced food for their own consumption instead of selling it on a large scale. In order to increase revenues, agribusiness is now focusing on making money by selling food items on a global basis. Many environmental difficulties in agriculture have arisen as a result of pesticides/herbicides/fertilizers polluting groundwater; however, this problem can be solved by sustainable agriculture methods such as recycling trash into manure for agricultural purposes.
How does sustainable agriculture benefit society?
Sustainable agriculture helps society by making efficient use of the Earth’s natural resources without jeopardizing environmental safety or future generations’ access to clean water sources or arable land. Furthermore, sustainable agriculture does not waste resources by using harmful pesticides or herbicides to produce food. In addition, it is beneficial for communities because agriculture creates jobs in rural areas which will help reduce poverty/ inequality between rich and poor regions of the country.
Can agriculture be sustainable?
Yes, agriculture can become sustainable through recycling used water for agricultural purposes such as drip irrigation techniques rather than contaminating groundwater with fertilizers/ pesticides/ herbicides. Also, agriculture can focus on being energy efficient by implementing methane-capturing technology which uses solar panels to provide enough electricity to run machinery that farms need
What are the basic principles of sustainable agriculture development?
The basic principles of sustainable agriculture include:
- Sustainable Agriculture concerns itself with long-term productivity and the protection of natural resources,
- AgricultureUses renewable resources
- Sustainable Agriculture must contribute to environmental quality
- Sustainable Agriculture improves economic viability for all sectors of society
How do you know if agriculture is sustainable development?
In order to know whether or not agriculture is sustainable, there are several questions that need to be asked. These questions include: Does agriculture have a symbiotic relationship with its environment? Is agriculture friendly towards biodiversity? Does the environment remain stable after agriculture has been implemented? Are agricultural systems able to adapt to changing conditions without damage from human activities?
What factors affect a farmer’s decision on trying sustainable development practices on their farm?
Some of the factors that affect a farmer’s decision on trying sustainable practices in their farm include:
- Is agriculture causing environmental degradation? Does agriculture lack high yields? Is agriculture lacking financial viability?
- Are our agriculture systems capable of surviving climate change without damaging human activities?
- Can agriculture improve its economic and social stability by implementing sustainable agriculture practices?
What is the difference between organic and conventional agriculture?
Organic agriculture does not use pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, GMOs, etc. while conventional agriculture uses these products. Furthermore, organic farming methods produce higher quality food than conventional methods. which means they can charge more money for it because people value food that is free from chemicals. Finally, consumers who buy food that is certified as organic are being responsible for the environment because they are not supporting agriculture that harms it through using chemicals.
Conclusion:
The fact that agriculture is harming the environment by utilizing hazardous chemicals such as pesticides necessitates the creation of sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture will ensure future generations’ access to clean water and fertile land. This will improve the environment and produce higher-quality food through organic farming methods.
| Dr Haroon Zaman Khan Assistant Professor Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad |
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