Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security

N.G. Hegde
Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security. Indian Farming. 49(12). Mar.: 4-11, 2000.

Population Growth leading to Scarcity

It is estimated that once the population in India crosses 1.38 billion in 2025 A.D., the
country will have to import about 60 million tons of foodgrains annually. During this
stage, the annual demand for food will have increased to 325 million tons/year, while
the production might remain stagnant at 250 million tons/year. Surely that will mark
the worst period in economic crisis, when the people might have to move around with
begging bowls to ensure food supply for survival.
In a resource poor country like India, if we are dependent on others even for
food, apart from other essential commodities, such as oil, natural gas, basic ingredients
for fertilisers, heavy engineering materials, nuclear power and computer technologies,
there will hardly be anything left in the country to export and settle the import bills.
Presently about 50% of the petroleum consumed in the country is imported and by
2035 A.D., we are likely to exhaust the oil reserves as well. Coal is the major source
of fossil fuel in India, which can last for some more period, but as the quality is poor,
there will hardly be any takers. The opportunity for exporting other minerals is also
insignificant. Thus without earning any foreign exchange, how can we import
foodgrains to feed our population ?
Our only hope is that 35 years is a long period and there is some scope, if we
wish to take some positive steps to ease the crisis. The immediate need is to address
the problem faced by the year 2010,when the population will have reached 1150
million and the annual demand for food will have reached 240 million tons. To cope
with the increasing demand, we need to enhance the agricultural production by 20%,
from the present level of 198 million tons. Under normal circumstances, a target to
maintain 2% growth can solve the problem. This should not be difficult as we have
recorded a higher average annual growth of 2.37% during the last decade. However
the strategy adopted in early 70s to boost food production has been well-exploited so
far and the productivity has now reached the level of saturation. We therefore need to
look into various factors affecting the crop production and modify our strategy to
address these problems, while making optimum use of the available resources and
technologies to reach the new target.
Current Status of Crop Yields
Considering the current levels of agricultural crop yields in other regions as presented
in Table 1, the task is within the reach of the Indian farmers. Presently the average
cereal crop yield in India is 1935 kg/ha, as compared to 4329 kg/ha in China, 4040
kg/ha in United States and 2757 kg/ha in the world. With regard to per capita land
holding and percentage of the crop lands covered under irrigation, India does not lag
behind significantly. Regarding the use of fertilisers, the average use in India is
significantly lower than in China, but closer to North America. Therefore it should be
possible to increase the food production in India by adopting scientific methods and
necessary inputs.

Table 2 shows crop-wise comparative data on cropping area, yield and

production in 1980-81 and 1994-95 indicate that the adaptation of modern agricultural
production technologies in the past to boost the yields were limited to only a few
crops such as wheat, paddy and maize. It is only because of an increase in the yield of
wheat that the average yield of cereal crops has increased during recent years. None
of the other crops have exceeded this average cereal crop yield, although the potential
yield of these crops is in the range of 2500 and 3500 kg/ha. Rice is the major crop
with over 43 million ha, contributing about 42% of the total foodgrains produced in
the country. Out of the total area, about 90% is under Kharif season with an average
yield 1776 kg/ha, while 10% area under Rabi has been yielding 2761 kg/ha. This 40%
increase in the yield, despite the possible water scarcities indicates the scope for
increasing the Kharif crop yield with better management. The yield of other crops in
rabi season has also been higher than that in Kharif season. Crops such as sorghum,
bajra, gram and oil seeds cover over 35% cropping area, but the yields are extremely
low. This could be due to inadequate inputs and inferior varieties
Application of higher doses of chemical fertilisers has a direct influence on the
crop yields atleast upto 100 kg/ha. In China, where the cereal crop yield is 4329 kg/ha
- the highest in the world, the average fertilisers applied for cereal crops is 284 kg/ha,
whereas the world average is 96 kg/ha. However, the average cereal crop yield in
Europe is 4295 kg/ha - only 1.0% lower as compared to China with over 30% lower
doses of fertilisers. The average cereal yield in United States is 4040 kg/ha, with only
87 kg fertilisers per hectare. The reduction in the yield by 6.7% with over 70%
reduction in fertiliser application highlights the scope for judicious use of external
inputs for sustainable crop production.
In India, the average fertiliser application in advanced states like Punjab is
167.3 kg/ha, followed by Andhra Pradesh (137.3 kg/ha), Haryana (123.7 kg/ha) and
Tamil Nadu (106.9 kg/ha), while the national average of fertiliser consumption is only
73 kg/ha. The average fertiliser consumption in Kerala, Gujarat and Maharashtra is
lower than the national average, while several backward states lag far behind. This is
because the farmers having irrigation facilities have only been making optimum use of
chemical fertilisers, and four major crops, namely sugarcane, paddy, wheat and cotton
consume over 80% of the total quantity of fertilisers used in the country. Even in these
crops, the response to fertilizer application is not very encouraging like in United
States. This can be due to improper nutritional balance, untimely application and other
factors such as varieties, crop protection and inadequate management. It has been
observed that as against the recommended N:P:K ratio of 4:2:1, Indian farmers have
been applying fertiliser in 8.5:2.6:1 ratio, which induces initial vegetative growth,
susceptible to pests, diseases, lodging and causes poor floral induction and delayed
maturity, thereby reducing the yield. Such excessive use of nitrogenous fertilisers,
while economising on P and K has been attributed to availability of N fertilisers at a
subsidised cost, while P and K fertilisers are expensive. Organic matter content in the
soil also plays a significant role in making efficient use of chemical fertilizers by the
crops. This reflects also on lack of awareness among farmers about appropriate
technologies for enhancing crop production.

In irrigated areas, where the water distribution has been undertaken by

the State Irrigation Department, the irrigation tariff for different crops has been fixed
on the basis of scientific water requirement, rather than actual quantity of water used
by the farmers. As most of these irrigation schemes have been commissioned in the
recent past, the farmers who were earlier practising dry farming, still believe that
excessive use of water can increase the crop yields. Due to free access to water which
does not cost more, there has been gross misuse and wastage of irrigation water. This
surplus quantity of water has been causing soil salinity and drainage problems, leading
to reduction in crop yields, while depriving many other farmers of irrigation. Excessive
use of water for irrigation has also been causing nutrient loss and acceleration of pests
and diseases.
While excessive use of water has been responsible for damaging over 9.0
million ha fertile farm lands and turning them into saline wastelands, rainwater in nonirrigated areas has been wasted to a great extent. Presently over 73% area under crop
production is dependent on rainfall and more than one half of this area is located in a
low rainfall zone. In these areas about 65% of the precipitation is lost through surface
run off, while causing soil erosion and loss of mineral nutrients. In rain fed areas
where soil moisture conditions are uncertain, farmers are unable to take any risk of
cultivating improved varieties or applying higher doses of fertilisers. Hence the crop
yields in these regions are extremely low. The problem is becoming more serious with
recent climatic changes, when unexpected rains damage the crops and confuse the
farmers in taking corrective measures. These problems can be handled more efficiently,
if greater emphasis is given to watershed development and storage of rainwater in farm
ponds and percolation tanks. With such facilities, the farmers can take up immediate
sowing, with the confidence of providing initial irrigation to protect the new crop.
They may also develop an attitude towards the application of optimum doses of
fertilisers, if irrigation facilities are available in times of emergency.
Scope for Increasing Crop Yields
The factors responsible for higher yield are high soil productivity, supply of balanced
crop nutrients, efficient water management, improved crops, better plant protection,
post-production management for value addition and marketing. Warm weather and
intensive sunlight are the other important inputs which are more favourable in India
compared to most of the other countries.
Soil productivity is based on the mineral composition and structure of the soil,
depth and drainage facilities, organic matter, intensity of earthworm and microbial
activities. Fairly well productive soils in combination with assured irrigation and
optimum supply of nutrients can enhance the crop yields by 200-300%, as compared to
normal crops grown under rainfed conditions. Selection of suitable crops, improved
varieties and efficient plant protection can also play a significant role in increasing the
crop yields. Although the integration of these inputs is critical this has often been
overlooked by most of the small and marginal farmers. In the absence of adequate
extension education, even the large holders have been making grave mistakes and
ending up in losses. Introduction of high yielding varieties without adequate investment
on inputs and plant protection has been the major cause for failure of cotton crop in
Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra which has led to the recent death of several hundreds
of farmers.

Rising cost of external inputs, disproportionate to the price for the produce is
another problem faced by the farmers in India. Except for some crops like sugarcane,
paddy and wheat, where the government has fixed minimum support price, most of the
other commodities are subject to severe price fluctuations controlled by unfair market
forces and traders. Even these support prices fail to satisfy the farmers, as they can
hardly make some savings with such low prices. It is thus clear that food production
cannot be increased merely by promoting the use of agrochemicals and other inputs,
particularly by small farmers.
Focus on Small Farmers
Capability of the farmers to manage their own farms is another important factor
influencing the crop yields. While the rich and elite farmers have been able to adapt
improved agronomic practices to earn good returns, poor and uneducated farmers who
receive incomplete information or cannot raise money on time to procure critical
inputs, generally end up with lower crop yields and huge losses. Hence the strategy to
enhance the food production should address the problems of such unsuccessful
farmers, who represent over 75% of the total holders in the country. They own less
than two ha land per family, mostly infertile and non-irrigated. They have been
practising low-external input farming and the crop yields have been substantially low.
Although their contribution to the national food production has been insignificant, it
has been meeting a significant part of their food needs.
Increase in food production in the country does not necessarily ensure food
security, if the poor do not have the buying power. Therefore participation of small
farmers in food production is essential to achieve food security in the country. Most of
them being illiterate and having failed earlier either in adapting new technologies or
repaying the loan provided under various development schemes sponsored by the
government, they have lost confidence both in themselves and the Extension Agencies.
They need support not only to procure inputs but also to gain confidence.
Initially they should be exposed to various technologies and opportunities to
improve the production and then encouraged to adapt improved practices gradually in
several stages, without taking any risk to invest in expensive external inputs. Although
such a strategy will take a long time for small holders to increase their crop yields at
par with the elite practising improved agriculture, however it will help them to sustain
their requirement. With increasing production, the foodgrain deficit within the
community will be reduced and even the poor and landless can locally procure
foodgrains at the farm gate price, at 30-40 % lower than the retail price. Thus most of
the poor can afford to meet their needs inspite of lower income and escape starvation.
This is the importance of production by the masses for ensuring food for the poor.
With initial support to develop their capabilities, skills and resources, small
farmers can take their own decisions on cropping pattern and use of external inputs to
enhance crop production. Simultaneously, the large holders can be encouraged to make
necessary investments on external inputs with sound technological support to maximise
the production. As the backward farmers generally follow the progressive and rich
farmers, in this process of capacity building, both rich and poor can contribute their
best to increase the food production.
Sustainable Agriculture

It is necessary to promote sustainable agriculture to safeguard the economic viability

of the farmers. Sustainable agriculture is a set of farming practices which can continue
to maintain the farm productivity, efficiency and profitability in the long run, without
depleting the natural resources and the environment. For ensuring the sustainability of
small farmers, it may be useful to encourage the adaptation of indigenous skills, use of
internal inputs, preferably from organic sources, least dependence on external inputs,
greater emphasis on crop diversity, symbiotic crop rotation, production focused on
local needs and easy marketability.
Farmers, particularly the small holders need proper orientation to take suitable
decisions on crop selection, investment in various inputs, storage and marketing, based
on the information on technical developments, government policies and prices of inputs
and outputs. Large and elite land holders should also be encouraged to adapt these
eco-friendly measures for profitability and environmental safety. Farming systems
which can fulfill these criteria can lead to eco-friendly green revolution. In such
situations, we can reduce the consumption and production of agrochemicals. The
polluting automobiles need not run up and down between the cities and villages to
transport agricultural inputs and outputs. The cost of food production can be lower
and the retail price of locally produced agricultural commodities will also come down,
when more poor people can afford to buy adequate food to maintain a balanced diet.
This is a `win-win situation for all, except the transport and traders.
In the process of avoiding or reducing the use of external inputs, if the small
farmers can adapt organic farming, the consumers can get healthy food and
productivity of the soil can also be conserved. With better awareness about benefits of
organic food, the consumers will be prepared to pay a higher price for eco-friendly
produce. Hence low-external input agriculture can be attractive, particularly for small
holders.
Extension of Traditional Wisdom
For ensuring sustainable agriculture, it is advisable to explore the traditional wisdom
and promote local practices. The study of local traditions will help in understanding
the soil fertility and water management systems developed over years. As these
practices have helped in the past to produce enough food grains before the
introduction of chemical fertilizers, sustainable agriculture can promoted on these
traditions. Thus sustainable farming is the extension of traditional practices with
necessary modifications.
With a significant change in the ecosystem, forest coverage, livestock holding
pattern and lifestyle in rural areas, it is becoming difficult to generate adequate quantity
of farmyard manure which was the major source of nutrients in olden days. With
increasing deforestation, diversion of biomass for fuel and commercial use, farmers are
not able collect biomass from the forests and community lands. But there has been an
increase in agricultural byproducts and domestic garbage, which can be used for
composting. With the promotion of agroforestry, live hedges and wind breaks, it is
possible to produce biomass useful for green manure. Cultivation of green manure
crop of short duration between two crops is another option to enhance soil fertility.
Adaptation of dairy farming with high yielding cattle and buffaloes, stall feeding and
installation of biogas plants can generate significant quantity of farmyard manure, while

generating additional income and energy. Use of earthworms can further improve the
quality of the manure.
The soil productivity can be further enhanced through soil and water conservation,
improved drainage, contour bunding and establishment of live hedges. In arid and
semiarid regions where the use of chemical fertilisers is risky, application of organic
manure and biofertilisers, adaption of tree-based farming, coupled with improved
drought tolerant crop varieties and integrated pest management can be promoted to
boost the yields. Replacement of local seeds with certified seeds, change of crops, use
of improved farm implements, mineral nutrients, plant protection measures and
installation of irrigation system are some of the new initiatives to further enhance the
crop yields. Post-harvest processing, storage and marketing are other areas where
both small and large holders have been incurring heavy losses. This area need
introduction of modern technologies and infrastructure development which can add
value to the produce, while reducing the cost of handling.
Need for Support and Coordination
Transfer of Technologies: Indian agriculture in general is due for modernisation,
which has been presently adapted for a few selected crops. These include the use of
efficient irrigation systems, biofertilisers, biopesticides, safe agrochemicals and
improved seeds, which have direct bearing on crop yields and cost of production.
Simple techniques for soil, water and plant analysis to maintain nutritional balance,
weed and pest management to reduce nutrient losses are some areas where technology
transfer has been lagging behind. Farmers can be oriented to make judicious use of
nutrients based on the soil fertility, organic matter content, soil moisture availability
and the crop requirement, as the balance between organic manure, macro and micronutrients is very critical to induce flowering and crop yields. It is therefore necessary to
strengthen the linkage between the Agricultural Research Institutions and State
Agricultural Extension Department with the farmers at the village level, preferably
through local voluntary agencies. The State Agricultural Extension Department and
the Krishi Vigyan Kendras should focus their role on providing such field technical
service through training, demonstration and field visits. The Agriculture Department
should also play a role in coordinating between various other departments like
Irrigation Department, Food Processing Department, Agricultural Credit and Banking
to ensure better services.
Research and Technology Development: There is good scope to further improve the
crop production, through application of growth regulators and hormones. These are
available both in natural and synthetic forms useful for control of vegetative growth,
floral induction, control the maturity period and to enhance the crop yield. These
techniques are also useful to improve the quality to synchronize the harvesting time
with peak demand for the produce. Development of safe and inexpensive biological
plant protection devices should also be given priority.
Production of efficient farm equipment and machinery can improve the
productivity and reduce the cost. Presently the tractors are hardly used for 250-300
hours in a year, mainly for pre-sowing operations and for occasional transportation.
If the idle time can be used for non-farm operations and to run small scale industries,
the farmers can reduce their overheads on crop production and generate additional
employment.

Information Support: Weather forecasts, advice on suitable cropping, information

service on market demand and supplies, periodic reports on area under various crops
and scope for further expansion and incidence of pests and diseases, through mass
media can help the farmers to take suitable decisions. These support services can be
established by the government or competent Farmers Organisations and made
available to farmers regularly.
Strengthening of Farmers Organisations: Dependency on outsiders has been the
cause for rural exploitation. To reduce the exploitation by middlemen, village level
farmers organisation should be developed throughout the country.
These
organisations can also motivate the farmers to adapt improved farming practice, while
procuring critical inputs well in time. These organisations can arrange loan from
financial institutions for their members. With the development of farmers organisations
and improvement in crop production, farmers can appoint their own technical advisors
and extension officers, as presently undertaken by the sugar cooperatives. Farmers
organisations like Federations of Sugar Cooperatives, Milk Unions, Grape Growers
Cooperative, Apple Growers Cooperative, tea producers and many such commodity
growers have been very successful in India in organising the growers to improve their
production, post harvest handling such as storage, processing and marketing to ensure
stable market and remunerative price. In the absence of such organisations for other
commodities, there has been tremendous harassment for both growers and consumers.
In case of onion, with only 10-15% reduction in the production, the price had
increased by 400-600% but the benefits of such price rise has hardly reached the
growers. This calls for various kinds of farmers organisations to cover certain
geographic areas and who are specialised in handling specific commodities.
Land Reforms and Consolidation: There are two kinds of land holding patterns,
which are affecting the crop production. The first category of farmers have large
holdings but are unable to make efficient use of such lands for agricultural production.
Among them are many absentee landholders who are afraid of leasing out for
cultivation, keep their land. The other category of farmers is those having small
holdings, where improved agricultural practices are not feasible. Farmers belonging to
both these categories are not willing to involve others for cultivation, as the present
Land Reforms Acts can entitle the tiller to own the land. Hence, there is need for
relaxation in the Land Reforms and Land Ceiling Acts. Farmers interested in leasing
land for short or long term may be allowed to do so on attractive terms. Corporate
sectors interested in agricultural development may be permitted to take land on lease
from farmers. With such large scale contract farming, it will be economically viable to
introduce new technologies and provide a stable market for farm produce. Hence
there is an urgent need to review the present Land Ceiling Acts to encourage corporate
farming, while safeguarding the interest of the farmers.
Conclusion
Looking to the prevalent farming practices in India and the scope for coping with
advances in agricultural development in other parts of the world, there is good scope
for improvement. There is also a wide gap between the elite and backward farmers
within the country. The task of achieving sufficiency in food production, involving
small farmers, is well within the reach. The Agricultural Extension Department should
reset its role as a facilitator to coordinate with various departments to ensure better

service to small farmers and to reduce the communication gap presently existing
between the agencies concerned with sustainable development and farmers.
References
Anon. 1995. World Resources, 1994. World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.
Government of India. 1997. Economic Survey, 1996-97 : 137-141, S 17-19.
Table 1: Comparative Agricultural Production in different Regions
Sr.
No.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Inputs / Particulars

India

China

Asia

Europe

North
America

World

Crop land :
ha/capita
Irrigated land :
% of total crop land 198991
Av. fertiliser use
kg / ha (1989-91)
Total cropped area
(mill. Ha)
Total cereal production
Mill. Tons (1990-92)
Average yield of cereals
Kg/ha. (1990-92)
No. of tractors
(million)

0.20

0.08

0.14

0.27

0.69

0.27

27

49

33

12

10

17

73

284

123

192

87

96

169.70

96.56

457.51

138.02

271.80

196.17

399.93

875.97

281.42

398.32

1935

4329

2854

4295

4040

1441.5
7
1928.0
4
2757

0.971

0.828

5.497

10.385

5.814

26.420

Source: Anon. 1995.

Table 2. Crop-Wise Area, Yield and Food Production in India

Foodgrains

Area
(Million ha)
1980-81

Food Grains
Kharif
Rabi
Cereals
Kharif
Rabi
Pulses
Kharif
Rabi
Rice
Kharif
Rabi
Wheat
Jowar
Kharif
Rabi
Maize
Bajra

1995-96

Yield
(kg/ha)
1980-81

Total
Production
(million tons)

1995-96

1980-81

Area under
irrigation
(% of crop)

1995-96

126.7
83.7
43.5
104.2
72.8
31.4
22.5
10.4
12.1
40.1
38.4
1.7
22.3

123.5
74.5
49.0
99.5
63.9
35.6
23.9
10.5
13.4
42.9
39.5
3.4
25.1

1023
933
1195
1142
1015
1434
473
361
571
1336
1303
2071
1630

1499
1318
1778
1727
1460
2207
552
354
540
1855
1776
2761
2493

129.6
77.7
51.9
119.0
73.9
45.1
10.6
3.8
6.8
53.6
50.1
3.5
36.3

185.1
98.2
86.9
171.9
93.4
78.5
13.2
4.8
8.4
79.6
70.1
9.5
62.6

15.8
10.2
5.6
6.0
11.7

11.5
5.6
5.7
6.0
9.4

660
737
520
1159
458

834
1014
651
1570
576

10.4
7.5
2.9
7.0
5.3

9.5
5.9
3.7
9.4
5.4

1993-94

38.7
(48.2)
45
(45.6)
11.2
(2.6)
48.6
(20.7)
22.6
(1.4)
6.2
(0.8)
6.6
(0.7)

Gram
Tur
Oilseeds
Kharif
Rabi
Groundnut
Kharif
Rabi
Sugarcane
(t)
Cotton

6.6
2.6
17.6
10.2
7.4
6.8
5.9
0.9
2.7

7.2
3.6
26.3
15.6
10.7
7.7
6.6
1.1
4.1

657
689
582
892
588
786
629
1444
58

697
662
851
814
906
1014
884
1772
68

4.3
2.0
9.4
5.0
4.4
5.0
3.7
1.3
154.2

5.0
2.4
22.4
12.7
9.7
7.8
5.8
2.0
282.9

7.8

9.1

152

246

7.0

13.1

Potato (t)

0.7

1.1

13

17

9.7

19.2

Source: Government of India. 1997.

23.0
(6.5)
87.0
(3.4)
34.3
(2.6)
-