Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
These include conservation agriculture based on NT farming and crop residue mulch,
including cover cropping, agroforestry, rainwater harvesting and recycling by drip
subirrigation, and integrated nutrient management involving judicious use of biofer-
tilizers and inorganic fertilizers (Winterbottom et al. 2013). Each of these options
has merits and trade-offs, and the latter must be critically considered under site-
specific situations. Precision farming is an important option to minimize losses and
optimize efficiency of inputs.
Any food security initiatives must be integrated with those of improving environ-
ment quality. In this context, small-scale farms are important to global food pro-
duction and well being of a large population, and for improving the environment.
Therefore, small landholders must be given the priority they deserve for sustainable
development. Through appropriate programs, small landholders can also be symbols
of modernity and economic efficiency. Sustainable development of small farms can
be realized by linking with market, information, and education network; soil recla-
mation; and adoption of modern innovations (Bainville et al. 2005). Given opportu-
nities, there is a large resilience and capacity in small landholders to evolve into loci
of economic development and environmental improvement. Furthermore, there is a
growing consensus that poverty is not necessarily a major cause of environmental
degradation (Ravnborg 2003).
1.11 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Access to essential information (e.g., technology, weather, market) is important to
reducing risks and improving productivity of small landholders. The three cor-
nerstones of information are quality, timeliness, and trustworthiness (Mittal and
Tripathi 2009). Mobile phones can play a critical role in promoting adoption of
BMPs through reduction of transition costs, search costs and saving of time, and
travel costs (Mittal and Tripathi 2009).
1.12 PAYMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Changing fertilizer and poor governance regarding the use of crop residues as ani-
mal fodder, animal dung as cooking fuel, and uncontrolled/open grazing are cru-
cial issues of managing soil fertility and restoring depleted SOC pool and nutrient
reserves. These constraints have perpetuated the use of extractive farming practices,
and hindered the adoption of RMPs. Adoption of RMPs by resource-poor farmers
can be promoted through payments for ecosystem/environmental services (PESs) for
C sequestration, biodiversity improvement, water quality enhancement, reduction of
CH
4
and N
2
O emissions from livestock, etc. (Lal et al. 2013). In Costa Rica, Cole
(2010) reported that the PES program was effective in overcoming some economic
and technical constraints to adoption of agroforestry. Effective policies must be
implemented that support efficient distribution of fertilizers along with adoption of
RMP (Cobo et al. 2009) through PESs to avoid future soil degradation and improve
food security. Furthermore, incentives through PESs can be used to alleviate soil-
related and other constraints to realize the potential of small landholders to advance
food security while harnessing global environmental services. It is important to
