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Sustainable Alternate
Farming Systems through
and for Efficient Resource Use
J al,
Jangal, Janvar aur Jamin
(Water, Forest, Livestock and Land) have been
identified as major natural resources governing key aspects of rural
life and economy. The methods of resource management and the degree of
efficiency inherent in those methods, in turn, determine the returns
people get out of resources and the efforts invested into managing them.
Previously, when resources were
not yet scarce due to lower population pressures on resource supplies,
resource management was not yet a major issue. Today, however, all
resources, especially those of water and land, are rapidly depleting.
Both land and water are critical to providing long-term food security,
due to their importance for agriculture. The efficient use and
management of land and water are becoming increasingly sensitive and
critical for ensuring livelihood support and sustained productivity.
A number of approaches to
efficient resource use in agriculture are of primary importance to
livelihood generation. One of them is watershed management: an approach
emphasising efficient resource utilisation and maximising sustainable
returns. The Watershed + approach takes into account livelihood
security and other social issues. Resource-efficient agricultural
activity has the potential to enhance the productivity of major crops
prevalent in the Bundelkhand region by as much as 30 per cent. Thus,
efficient resource use not only reduces input costs in agricultural
practices, but also increases productivity in a sustainable manner, thus
further enhancing the returns per unit costs (benefits) to the farmer.
One example of
resource-efficient agricultural practice is agro-forestry - a system of
land use whereby the same plot of land sustains trees, crops and
animals. The use of land for planting both crops and trees has the
potential of providing maximum returns. Benefits which can be harnessed
through the application of this approach allow sales of produce
throughout a season, efficient use of land, soil nutrients and moisture
and decreased susceptibility of plants to water scarcity/ drought
conditions leading to reduced crop failure.
Further, the incorporation of
new agro-technology packages (for instance, the promotion
of low-cost nursery management, medicinal cultivation, soil and moisture
conservation techniques, soil nutrient analysis and improved feeding
strategies for livestock), alongside traditional agricultural practices,
can lead to added benefits, such as increased agricultural productivity
and enhanced income generation.
Studies indicate the potential
of high returns from the application of the agro-forestry system, from
27% in the case of agri-horti practices to 33% on implementing the
hortipasture system 1,
with a BC ratio variation from 1.09% to 2.33%.
One context-appropriate model,
the Wadi programme, that is, a small orchard concept particularly useful
to small and marginal farmers, has been adopted and is being propagated
by NABARD. Development Alternatives has adapted and demonstrated this
model in use on the ground, proving that the Wadi approach is beneficial
and well suited for use in the Bundelkhand region, as well as for small
farmers in general. The success of the Wadi programme in the experience
of the Development Alternatives Group has reflected the potential for
promoting large-scale, sustainable, green livelihoods in regions
affected by a range of social and environmental constraints, as well as
such programmes’ capacity to address global issues connected to climate
change through adaptation and mitigation measures. q
Kiran Sharma
ksharma2@devalt.org
Footnotes
1 Greening India, Planning Commission,
Government of India, 2001
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