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 INTENSIVE AND INCLUSIVE KNOWLEDGE An agroecological approach is particularly well suited for rural communities and developing economies. It recognizes the value of high quality scientific research and of advanced technological exploration and innovation. It also emphasizes the societal and knowledge gains from dialogue between researchers, farmers and indigenous communities. Indigenous knowledge systems and traditional farming practices often yield site-specific insights that would otherwise be outside the purview of formal science. Successful agroecological research, education and extension programs have been building for decades on local and traditional knowledge systems, often through participatory and experiential learning processes and multi-organizational partnerships that integrate formal and informal Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology (AKST). Examples include Farmer Field Schools in Integrated Pest Management, Plant Health Clinics, farmer to-farmer extension programs, and agroecological studies in school and urban gardens. Agroecology combines scientific inquiry with indigenous and community-based experimentation, emphasizing technology and innovations that are knowledge-intensive, low cost and readily adaptable by small and medium-scale producers. These methods are considered likely to advance social equity, sustainability and agricultural productivity over the long term [10]. PROFITABLE PRODUCTION Farmers adopting agroecological methods have produced equal and sometimes substantially increased yields per unit area compared to those using conventional methods in many parts of the world, although research challenges in specific crops and some agroecosystems remain. Similarly, a comprehensive examination of nearly 300 studies worldwide by the University of Michigan concluded that organic agriculture could produce enough food, on a per capita basis, to provide 2,640 to 4,380 kilocalories per person per day (more than the suggested intake for healthy adults). Organic farms in developing countries were found to outperform conventional practices by 57%. These promising findings may underestimate the full potential of agroecological farming to contribute to increased farmlevel productivity, household income and food security, as only a very small fraction of public and private sector agricultural investment has thus far gone towards agroecological research [11]. FUTURE PROSPECTS In future, agriculture will face formidable challenges to provide adequate nutrition for people. Therefore, it is the right time to take decisions, how to increase agricultural productivity, as the developing countries have the lowest productivity for most of the food crops. It is obvious that unless the latest tools of science and technology are applied for sustainable and distribution of natural resources of our country, poverty and hunger will persist. The new technology with agro ecology may be able to harness several newer possibilities in managing the farm sector precisely [12]. CONCLUSION Vijikumar Agroecology based sustainable agriculture emphasizes farmer’s participation, utilization of traditional knowledge, adaptation small farm enterprises, increased plant genetic diversity, soil fertility and sustainable productivity. There is need of basic research activity in agroecology. It should be included in academic curriculum. Integrated co operation of NGOs, Government agencies, community based organizations, policy makers, research institutions and 88
Indian Journal Of Natural Sciences ISSN: 0976 – 0997 Vol1 / Issue 2 / October 2010 © IJONS funding agencies creates frame work for implementing the sustainable based agriculture (Agroecology) among the farmers there by creating the hunger free India by safe guarding the food security. Thus agroecology provides the knowledge and methodology necessary for developing agriculture that is on the one hand environmentally sound and on the other hand highly productive, socially equitable and economically viable. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am so grateful to famous Agroecologist Altieri. M.A, University of California to inspire me to involve in this field by his Research works. And also convey my thanks to Research Associates Mr. Muthuramsanjivi, Mr. J.John Vasanth and staff of Plant Science Research Division (PSRD), TNSRO, Arimalam, Tamil Nadu, India. I am also given my sincere thanks to my wife Mrs. V. Muthulakshmi who had supported and encouraged me by her valuable suggestions and informations. REFERENCES Vijikumar 1. Debashis Mandal and Ghosh SK, Precision farming – The emerging concept of agriculture for today and tomorrow, Current Science 2000; 79: 1644-1647 2. Altieri MA.Agroecology: the scientific basis of alternative agriculture. Boulder: Westview Press 1987 3. Altieri MA, Biodiversity and pest management in agroecosystems. HayworthPress, New York 1994. 4. Altieri MA. and Nicholls CI, Biodiversity, ecosystem function and insect pest management in agricultural systems. In W.W. Collins and C.O. Qualset (eds.) Biodiversity in Agroecosystems. CRC Press, Boca Raton 1999. 5. Altieri MA, Letourneaour DK and Davis JR, Developing sustainable agroecosystems. BioScience 1983 ; 33: 45- 49. 6. Andow DA, Vegetational diversity and arthropod population response. Annual Review of Entomology 1991; 36: 561-586. 7. Carrol CR, Vandermeer JH and Rosset PM, Agroecology. McGraw Hill Publishing Company, New York 1990. 8. Finch CV and Sharp CW, Cover Crops in California Orchards and Vineyards. USDA Soil Conservation Service, Washington, D.C 1976 9. Altieri MA, Agroecology: A New research and development paradigm for world agriculture, Agriculture ecosystem and environment, ,Elsevier science publishers, B.V.Amsterdam, Netherlands 1989: 37-46 10. Agricultural biodiversity’s role in the Agroecosystem. About the work of FAO on biodiversity. 11. Gliessman, SR. Agroecology: ecological processes in sustainable agriculture. Ann Arbor Press, Michigan 1998. 12. Hendrix PH, Jr. Crossley DA and Coleman DC. Soil biota as components of sustainable agroecosystems 1990 In C.A. 89
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