Agricultural Production Lecture Notes PDF

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION NAGP51214 DR KG SHADUNG  ATTENTION Be open-minded Listen carefully One conversation at a time Respect the opinions of others Give constructive feedback Build on the ideas of others rather than destroying them Take some risks and s...

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION NAGP51214 DR KG SHADUNG  ATTENTION Be open-minded Listen carefully One conversation at a time Respect the opinions of others Give constructive feedback Build on the ideas of others rather than destroying them Take some risks and share new ideas Have fun and enjoy the experience! Delivery mode Blended approach (both physical and online) Lectures (attendance is compulsory) Class discussions Refer to module guide  Highlights of agricultural development – Agricultural Revolutions Definition: Agricultural Revolution The name for a series of shifts in human culture and practices that allowed for the invention and improvement of farming, including crop cultivation and animal husbandry. The Agricultural Revolution is defined as being the transformation of agriculture from traditional medieval farming to more productive, efficient, and mechanical methods of farming through scientific innovation and new techniques starting in the mid-1700s. Agriculture has undergone a remarkable evolution over the centuries, each stage marked by advancements that have shaped our food systems. Agricultural Revolutions 1. First Agricultural Revolution 10,000 year ago – The initial domestication of plants and animals. First conscious cultivation of plants Agriculture 1.0, the first form of agriculture, relied on human labor and simple tools. Farmers tilled the land, sowed seeds, and harvested with their own hands and basic implements. This subsistence farming provided sustenance to local communities but struggled to meet the demands of a growing population. Second Agriculture Revolution 250 years ago - Mechanization of agriculture with improved practices of cultivation, harvesting, and storage of farm produce. A series of innovations, improvements, and techniques used to improve the output of agricultural surpluses (started before the industrial revolution). eg. seed drill advances in livestock breeding new fertilizers  The Industrial Revolution ushered in Agriculture 2.0, characterized by the introduction of machinery and steam power. Tractors, harvesters, and threshers replaced manual labor, significantly increasing productivity and enabling farmers to cultivate larger areas of land. This era marked a turning point in agriculture and laid the foundation for future advancements. Second Agricultural Revolution Modification of tools and equipment of agriculture Increased efficiency of food storage and distribution Increased productivity Aided in the growth of large urban areas  The Third Agricultural Revolution The Green Revolution is also known as the third Agricultural revolution. The Green Revolution refers to the spread of advances in agricultural technology that began in Mexico and which led to a significant increase in food production in the developing world. It arose in response to the growing concerns in the mid- 20th century about the world's ability to feed itself. This was due to the global imbalances between population and food supply. The Third Agricultural Revolution Late 19th Century and gained momentum through the 20th Century Big differences between the 2nd and the 3rd is degree Mechanization, chemical farming with synthetic fertilizers, and globally widespread food manufacturing Green Revolution Is a term used for great increase in production of food grains (especially WHEAT and RICE) that resulted in large part from the introduction into developing countries of new, high-yielding varieties, beginning in the mid-20th century. Its early dramatic successes were in Mexico and the Indian subcontinent. The new varieties require large amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to produce their high yields, raising concerns about cost and potentially harmful environmental effects. Green Revolution It begin in Mexico in the 1940’s, by an American agricultural scientist, Norman Borlaug. He conducted research and developed new disease resistance high- yielding varieties of wheat. By combining Borlaug's wheat varieties with new mechanized agricultural technologies, Mexico was able to produce more wheat than was needed by its own citizens, leading to its becoming an exporter of wheat by the 1960s. Due to the success of GR in Mexico, its technology spread worldwide in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Green Revolution In 1965, before the green revolution, India was importing 10 million tons of cereal grains, with import demand growing by 2 million tons per annum (Borlaug, 2005). During the green revolution, efforts were intensified on irrigated agriculture and as a result crop yields increased 30-100 percent higher than non- irrigated crops in West Pakistan. (Nulty, 1972). Brazil is a major exporter of coffee, sugar, soyabean, beef and orange juice. Grain output doubled in just one decade, as the agricultural frontier expanded and farm industry accounts for about 90% of the country’s trade surplus of more than 40 billion dollars a year. Green Revolution The crops significantly affected were wheat, rice and maize. This had made it possible for India to double her grain yields within a span of 6 years. In 1971, India had food surplus of 2 million tons (Sen, 1975) thus attaining self-sufficiency in food. Substantial increase in production of food grains was achieved through the use of improved crop varieties, higher levels of input of fertilizer, plant protection chemicals, intensified irrigation, etc. Green Revolution DISADVANTAGES OF GREEN REVOLUTION Reduction of natural fertility of the soil Destruction of soil structure, aeration and water holding capacity Susceptibility of soil erosion by water and wind Diminishing returns on inputs Indiscriminate killing of useful insects, microorganisms and predators Breeding more virulent and resistant species of insects Pollution with toxic chemicals from the agrochemicals Green Revolution Reducing genetic diversity of plant species Endangering the health of farmers using chemicals and workers who produce them Poisoning the food with highly toxic pesticides residues Cash crops displacing nutritious food crops Chemicals changing the natural taste of food High inputs increasing the agricultural expenses Lowering the drought tolerance of crops Appearance of difficult weeds Heightening the socio-economic disparities and land holding concentration Green Revolution High input subsidies leading to inflationary spirals Increasing the political and bureaucratic corruption Throwing financial institutions into disarray (as impoverished farmers demand write-off of loans) Criticisms of the Green Revolution Green Revolution hasn’t alleviated hunger Economic power, land controlled by few Technology benefits wealthy Therefore Green Revolution increases inequity More hunger AND more food at same time Criticisms of the Green Revolution Food Insecurity of poor not addressed Cash Crops: food flows from the poor and hungry nations to the rich and well-fed nations Green Revolution not sustainable destroys resource base on which agriculture depends Criticisms of the Green Revolution Early, poor had little access to credit Could not buy seeds, fertilizer, irrigation to make Green Revolution work Wealthy invested, got richer, drove out poor Now, more emphasis on loans for poor There are still problems Need good land (wealthy own) Agrochemicals bad for health, environment Expensive inputs: profits to global chemical companies Rural people displaced from land Mechanization reduces agricultural jobs Not ecologically sustainable: depletes soil, pesticide race Profits Profits from Green Revolution go to Middlemen Banks Chemical companies Biggest growers Grain prices fall Farms get bigger Brazil Soil Depletion Worldwide Dramatic increases in yields during 1970s, 1980s Soil now depleted, resulting in leveling off or dropping yields 6% of Agricultural land in India now useless Increased Dependency Poor countries must import: Seeds Fertilizer Pesticides Herbicides Cost to India increased 600% 1960- 1980 Biotechnology leads to more dependency Unsustainable Agriculture “War” between humans and weeds, insects and disease Market pesticide s and dictates chemical weapons: fertilizers We are destroying our food- producing resources Destruction of Agricultural Resources Desertification Soil erosion Pesticide Groundwater contamination depletion Genetic Salinization resources shrinking Fossil fuels depleting Mechanizatio n Replacement of human labor with machines Tractors, combines, reapers, pickers, since late 1800’s Chemical Farming Application of synthetic fertilizers to the soil Also herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides Important environmental impact