Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The once flourishing
Pokkali
cultivation in the coastal districts and the
Kai-
pad
farming system in the Kannur district are testimonials to man's ingenuity
in harnessing the natural events for farming [ . . . ] without affecting the natural
ecological processes and without even any external input.
However, the so-called modern agriculture—unmindful of the ecosystem
principles so revered and practiced for centuries—led to seemingly irrevoca-
ble ecological and environmental catastrophes in the country. The [so-called]
Green Revolution essentially replaced the traditional [crop] varieties with high-
yielding ones. These high-yielding varieties, now recognized as “high input va-
rieties,” needed tons of fertilizers to achieve the target growth. The crops and
varieties alien to the soil atracted new pests and diseases and also outbreaks of
existing pests. To combat them . . . huge quantities of pesticides [were brought
in]. Input of these “exotic” elements into the traditional farming led to [a] mul-
titude of environmental issues.
The microorganisms declined; the soil lost its fertility and vitality; water de-
mand increased and the time-tested traditional varieties disappeared. In short,
the centuries-old practices came to a halt. The eternal relationship between the
farmer and farmland was lost. More importantly, sustainability of the agricul-
ture systems collapsed, the cost of cultivation soared, the income of farmers
stagnated, and food security and food safety became daunting challenges.
Biodiversity in the agricultural fields has now become [only a memory]. The
farmland became silent, devoid of the croak of frogs, chatering of warblers,
whistling of W histling Ducks. The long tubular straw . . . nests of the Baya
weaver bird hanging on the fronds of palm—a once spectacular sight—have
disappeared from most localities. The insectivorous birds such as drongo, bee-
eater, even the house sparrow became rare or locally extinct, indicating the col-
lapse of the entire food webs of the farmland.
In the forestry sector, fortunately, the use of pesticides has been much less
[frequent]. However, the aerial spraying of pesticides in India was first tried in
Kerala in 1965 to control the teak defoliators in the Konni forest division. It was
noted that within 48 hours nearly 162 non-target species of arthropods were
knocked down.
The mentally and physically retarded and handicapped children in Padri vil-
lage in Kasergod tell the world in unequivocal terms the tragedies and disasters
that aerial spraying of pesticides could inflict on human life.
As a result of all these “modern” techniques, the air, water, and soil were pol-
luted; most food grains and farm products were contaminated by pesticides.
The run-of from the farmland contaminated the wetlands—rivers, tanks,
ponds, reservoirs, lakes, and all water bodies—and the life in them. Fish carried
