PRT 2008PRT 2008

Lecture 9Lecture 9

Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture

DefinitionDefinition

Farming systems that are capable Farming systems that are capable of maintaining their productivity of maintaining their productivity and usefulness indefinitely. Such and usefulness indefinitely. Such

systems must be resource-systems must be resource-conserving, socially supportive, conserving, socially supportive, commercially competitive and commercially competitive and

environmentally sound.environmentally sound.

Sustainable agricultureSustainable agriculture

• Produce food without depleting the earth’s resourcesProduce food without depleting the earth’s resources

• Not pollutingNot polluting

• Follows the principle of natureFollows the principle of nature

• Take industrial production as its modelTake industrial production as its model

• Result in agri-businessResult in agri-business

• Socially acceptableSocially acceptable

• Follow ecology-based approachesFollow ecology-based approaches

• Promote biodiversity, recycle plant nutrients, protect soil Promote biodiversity, recycle plant nutrients, protect soil from erosion, conserve water and integrate crops and from erosion, conserve water and integrate crops and livestocklivestock

• It is profitableIt is profitable

Objectives of sustainabilityObjectives of sustainability

• Economic sustainabilityEconomic sustainability

• Social sustainabilitySocial sustainability

• Environmental sustainabilityEnvironmental sustainability

Economic sustainabilityEconomic sustainability

• The family saving is going upThe family saving is going up

• Debt is going downDebt is going down

• The farm enterprise is consistently The farm enterprise is consistently profitableprofitable

• Purchase of fertilizer is decreasingPurchase of fertilizer is decreasing

• Reliance on government payment is Reliance on government payment is decreasingdecreasing

Social sustainabilitySocial sustainability

• The farm support businesses in the The farm support businesses in the communitycommunity

• Money circulate within the economyMoney circulate within the economy• The number of rural family is going upThe number of rural family is going up• Young people take over their parent’s Young people take over their parent’s

farmsfarms• University graduates return to the University graduates return to the

community after graduationcommunity after graduation

Environmental sustainabilityEnvironmental sustainability

• There is no bare groundThere is no bare ground

• Clean waterClean water

• Wildlife is abundantWildlife is abundant

• Fish in the streamFish in the stream

• The farm landscape is diverse in The farm landscape is diverse in vegetationvegetation

Farm as an ecosystemFarm as an ecosystem

On any farm, 4 ecosystems On any farm, 4 ecosystems are at work. It will conserve are at work. It will conserve

soil and water resources, soil and water resources, reduced cost.reduced cost.

Applying the principle of Applying the principle of sustainabilitysustainability

• Keep the soils covered throughout Keep the soils covered throughout the yearthe year

• DiversificationDiversification

DiversificationDiversification

• Crop rotationCrop rotation

• Use cover crops and green manuresUse cover crops and green manures

• Use compost and fertilizersUse compost and fertilizers

• Weed managementWeed management

• Pest managementPest management

• Disease managementDisease management