Agroecology for Sustainable Food Security - tnsroindia.org.in

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Indian Journal Of Natural Sciences ISSN: 0976 – 0997 Vol1 / Issue 2 / October 2010 © IJONS including environmental and human elements. It has emerged as the discipline that provides the basic ecological principles for how to study, design and manage agroecosystems that are both productive and natural resource conserving, and that are also culturally sensitive, socially just and economically viable [3]. AIM OF THIS ARTICLE The aim of this paper to identify the ideas practices and policies that constitute our concept of agroecology for sustainable agriculture .We do so for two reasons to clarify the research agenda and priorities of our food programme and suggest others to take practical steps that may be appropriate for them in moving towards sustainable agriculture. GOAL OF AGROECOLOGY The ultimate goal of agroecology is to integrate components so that overall biological efficiency is improved, biodiversity is preserved, and the agroecosystem productivity and its self-regulating capacity are maintained. The goal is to design an agroecosystem that mimics the structure and function of local natural ecosystems; that is, a system with high species diversity and a biologically active soil, one that promotes natural pest control, nutrient recycling and high soil cover to prevent resource losses [4]. AGROECOLOGY Vs DIVERSIFIED AGROECOSYSTEMS The problem of hunger and rural poverty in the developing countries has been perceived fundamentally as a problem of production. Attempts to solve the problem of hunger have focused on developing a system by which “low productivity subsistence oriented agriculture could be transformed in to high productivity commercial, cash crop oriented agriculture [5]. For economic and nutritionally vulnerable populations, agroecology supports production of both a greater quantity and diversity of high quality food, fiber and medicinal products, both for family consumption and the market. Agroecology provides guidelines to develop diversified agroecosystems that take advantage of the effects of the integration of plant and animal biodiversity such integration enhances complex interactions and synergisms and optimizes ecosystem functions and processes, such as biotic regulation of harmful organisms, nutrient recycling, and biomass production and accumulation, thus allowing agroecosystems to sponsor their own functioning. More over agroecology improves the adaptive capacity of agroecosystems and reduces vulnerability to natural disasters, climate change impacts, and new and emerging environmental and economic system stresses and shocks [6]. AGROECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT Vijikumar Agroecological management must lead management to optimal recycling of nutrients and organic matter turnover, closed energy flows, water and soil conservation and balance pest-natural enemy populations. Various strategies to restore agricultural diversity in time and space include crop rotations, cover crops, intercropping, crop/livestock mixtures, and so on, which exhibit the important ecological features (i.e.) Crop Rotations, Polycultures, Agroforestry Systems, Cover Crops and Animal integration [7]. All of the above diversified forms of agroecosystems share in common the features (i.e.) 1. Maintain vegetative cover as an effective soil and water conserving measure, met through the use of no-till practices, mulch farming, and use of cover crops and other appropriate methods. 86
Indian Journal Of Natural Sciences ISSN: 0976 – 0997 Vol1 / Issue 2 / October 2010 © IJONS Vijikumar 2. Provide a regular supply of organic matter through the addition of organic matter (manure, compost, and promotion of soil biotic activity). 3. Enhance nutrient recycling mechanisms through the use of livestock systems based on legumes, etc. 4. Promote pest regulation through enhanced activity of biological control agents achieved by introducing and/or conserving natural enemies and antagonists [8]. Biodiversity is indeed an important regulator of agroecosystem function, not only in the strictly biological sense of impact on production, but also in the satisfying a variety of needs of the farmers and society at large. Understanding the lifecycles, ecological responses and interaction within and between the organisms that provide ecological services enables agroecosystems managers to build on and enhance the essential services provided by biodiversity. Agroecosystem managers can reduce external input requirement, increase productivity and improve the sustainability of the ecosystem [9]. Ecologically-based management of agroecosystems supports resource conservation and sustainable pest management. Source: IAASTD Global Report Figure 3-6, from Altieri, M.A., and C.I. Nicholls, 1999. Biodiversity, ecosystem function, and insect pest management in agricultural systems. p. 69-84. In W.W. Collins and C.O.Qualset(ed) Biodiversity in Agroecosystems. CRC Press, NY. 87
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Agroecology for Sustainable Food Security - tnsroindia.org.in

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