Sustainable Agriculture and Environment A Challenge for Existence

摘要

A turnaround in agricultural development and attainment of self-sufficiency in food productionrnin India during the last five decades is remarkable. Food production has increased by 390 per centrnfrom mere 52 million tonnes in 1951-52 to 203 million tonnes in 1998-99. It records a compoundrngrowth rate of 2.79 % per annum in food production during the said period. This achievement hasrnbeen possible owing to concerted planning, research and action in technological development in croprnproduction along with better input-management. Though there have been considerable growth inrnproduction of milk, fish, meat and egg, fruit and vegetable, the per capita availability is notrnsatisfactory. Mal-nutrition exists among a large majority of the population.rnIndian population that was only 363 millions in 1951 has increased by 2.78 times to aroundrn1010 millions in 2001. The population is projected to be round 1600 millions in 2030 AD. which isrnlikely to be stabilized by 2050. The demand for food, oils and fibres poses a big challenge. The annualrnfood and edible oil requirements for 1600 million people are estimated as 364 and 38 million tonnesrnrespectively. In view of very little scope for further expansion of agricultural land, which is atrnpresent only 0.17 hectare, the approach for the future lies in taking measures to boost up the croprnproduction per unit of land per unit of time. This envisages a strong thrust on resource mobilizationrnand input management in an integrated way, and development and innovation of appropriaterntechnologies oriented to small farmers’ economic and social environments. The land use patternrnrequires orientation to achieve maximization of crop returns in areas where factors of productionrnare favourable. National development should aim at removing regional imbalances in developmentrnand providing adequate facilities to farmers. The main issue before the nation is containing the risernof population that retards the impact of development process. A serious study on futurology ofrnagriculture demands a close attention.rnThe environment in general has a depressing note. The industrial pollution must stop.rnAgriculture and forest management in conformity with the ecosystem can only sustain a healthyrnenvironment.