The Need for a Resilient Agricultural System - 1064 Words

Climate change and the diminishing of the natural resource base caused by human activity to provide their needs and satisfy their insatiable appetite for more things as well as the pressure on the nature caused by population increase has necessitated the need for such behaviors and activities as will assist man to cope in this situation. These behaviors and activities to cope are called resilience and Walker and Salt (2006) defined resilience as the ability of a system to absorb disturbance and still retain its basic function and structure. To reach to this resilience level, there is need for redesigning of the use of the natural resource base in a manner that will ensure its sustainability. One of the systems that depend on the use of natural resource base for its total thriving is the agricultural system. The extent to which an agricultural system is resilient depends solely upon the practices used to extract benefits from the system, that is, to improve productivity. It is theref ore imperative to ensure that farmers employ sustainable practices, stakeholders put in measures that promote these sustainable practices and policies be developed that support the sustainable practices. Nevertheless, there are other various drivers and disturbances that impact on agricultural system apart from the unsustainable practices and these drivers also determine the level at which the agricultural system will be resilient. In this paper, I will discuss the agricultural system and itsShow MoreRelatedFamily Farming : A New Generation Mode Essay853 Words   |  4 Pagesof climatic conditions, land usage, soil composition, water availability, crop variety, livestock breeds etc. are the additional factors that are making the farming more challenging and risky. Table 2: Supply-Demand Differences of Major Indian Agricultural Commodities with Projections Commodities/ Years 2011-12 to 2013-14 Average (MT) 2024-25 (MT) Growth rate (Average % ∆) 2000 -12 2012 – 2024(P) Rice 10.2 8.3 0.1 -0.2 Wheat 5.4 2.7 -0.2 -0.3 Corn 4.6 1.5 1.8 -1.6 Cotton 1.7 1.9 3.9 -0.4 SoybeansRead MoreThe Debate Over Organic Certification For Aquatic Animals1687 Words   |  7 Pagesthe â€Å"non-dualistic† qualities of organic farming, meaning that the processes inflicted by humans on natural systems are ecologically sustainable and non-harmful (218). However, in a world where conventionalization happens overnight, the Organic movement must resist this force if it wants to keep it’s distinctive values from becoming indistinguishable from those of the conventional agricultural movements. Furthermore, the organic identity will be misrepresented when Organic products are standardisedRead MoreThe Hunger Of Hunger And Malnutrition1429 Words   |  6 Pagesfood to grow. As the demand for agricultural products is increasing, it is estimated that, in the next 35 years the amount of food produced will be much more than that in history, all this is based on the projection that, world population will increase, and that rising incomes will continue to change diets. This will lead to sustainable intensification (SI) of agriculture on the land that is available (i.e. we will need to produce more without expanding the agricultural area). Food production is reliantRead MoreThe Dangers Of Hunger And Malnutrition1432 Words   |  6 Pagesfood to grow. As the demand for agricultural products is increasing, it is estimated that, in the next 35 years the amount of food produced will be much more than that in history, all this is based on the projection that, world population will increase, and that rising incomes will continue to change diets. This will lead to sustainable intensification (SI) of agriculture on the land that is available (i.e. we will need to produce more without expanding the agricultural area). Food production is reliantRead MoreIs It Possible to Restore a Balance between the Conservation of the Natural Environment and the Growing Global Needs of Humans620 Words   |  3 Pagesbeginning to realise that that these bio- systems can not be conserved just through the protection of critical areas alone. A new solution whos potential hasn’t been fully taken advantage of until now is ecological restoration which is a process whereby not only the recovery of eco systems that have been degraded damaged or destroyed are looked at but also the human influences that surround them. In order for ecological restoration to be effective it needs to pay attention to four main aspects namely:Read MoreContemporary Cities Methods Of Resilience1202 Words   |  5 Pageslosses. 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Government subsidies for seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides