4/23/2015

Dr. Lau Wei Hong

What is Sustainable Agriculture?

 The word "sustain," from the Latin

sustinere (sus-, from below and tenere, to
hold), to keep in existence or maintain,
implies long-term support or permanence.

Sustainable
Agriculture

Sustainability
SCL
 Sustainability promotes biodiversity, recycles
plant nutrients, protects soil from erosion,  DISCUSS THE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO
conserves and protects water, uses minimum ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY in
tillage, and integrates crop and livestock
enterprises on the farm. There are 3 objectives
1. Economic development
shich a farm or rural community practicing 2. Environmental conservation
sustainability has to fulfill:
 Economic development 3. Socio-political benefits
 Environmental conservation
 Socio-political benefits

Economic development External purchase

of feed and
Net financial
increase consistently
fertilizer decreases through saving

 Economic development requires

selecting profitable enterprises, Family
Economic debt
sound financial planning, development decreases

proactive marketing, risk control

and good overall management. Farm enterprise
reaps profits year
after year
Less reliance on
government
subsidies

1
 4/23/2015

3. Mineral Cycle
Environmental conservation 1. Water Cycle Animal
• Reduce deforestation Manure
• Awareness campaign Plant
7 education Soil
 Environmental conservation involves Environmental
keeping the four ecosystem processes conservation
(effective energy flow, water and 4.Ecosystem Dynamic
mineral cycles, and viable ecosystem 2. Energy Flow
Plants Animals
•Conserve forest. •Animal shelter.
dynamics) in good condition. •Growing of season cover •Zero burning. •Avoid hunting
crops. •Biological control. mere extinct
•Forbid slash & burn. •Basic framework animal.
•Canserve forest. integrated pest
•Encourage home planting management.

Intercropping Socio-political benefits

Cover crops, composts and fertilizers
 keeping money circulating in the local
Crop rotation economy, and maintaining or
enhancing the quality of life of the
Borders, windbreaks and farm family.
special plantings
Tillage Zero burning
Pest management

Principles in Sustainable Agriculture

Socio-political benefits
 The farm supports other businesses and families in
the community.
 Money circulate within the local economy.
 The number of rural families is going up or holding
steady.
 Young people take over their parents' farms and
continue farming.
 College graduates return to the community after
graduation.
 keeping soil covered
 avoiding plowing
 increasing biodiversity wherever possible through crop
rotation, intercropping, use of cover crops, and integrated pest
management
 applying animal manures or compost
 diversifying enterprises and planning for profit
 integrating crop and animal enterprises
 minimizing tillage, commercial fertilizer, and pesticides
 buying supplies locally
 employing local people
 including quality of life in your goals.