Sowing seeds for sustainable farming

Author: Ashok Kumar

Soil degradation in rural India poses a formidable challenge to the country’s agricultural sustainability, economic stability, and food security. With smallholder farmers constituting 80% of India’s agricultural workforce, the deteriorating health of soil directly affects their livelihoods. Unsustainable farming practices, overreliance on synthetic inputs, and climate change exacerbate soil erosion, nutrient depletion, salinization, and acidification. Addressing this issue requires an integrated approach to preserve and restore soil health. Role of Smallholder Farmers: Smallholder farmers are vital contributors to the global food system but remain marginalized in development efforts. Smallholder and marginal farmers, owning less than two hectares of land, makeup 86.2% of all farmers in India, yet they own only 47.3% of the arable land. Investing in balanced nutrition for the crops can improve productivity but also heighten risks for resource-constrained farmers. This presents a barrier to adopting improved practices. A curated approach is necessary combining strategic and tactical interventions. Strategic investments like correcting soil acidity, adopting conservation agriculture, and increasing soil organic matter are critical to ensuring long-term productivity.

Extent and consequences of soil degradation: India faces extensive soil degradation, according to the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP), around 30% of India’s total land area (approximately 120 million hectares) is affected by soil degradation. The primary causes are misuse and unbalanced application of fertilizers, monocropping, poor irrigation practices, and inadequate crop rotation, all of which contribute to the depletion of soil nutrients and the loss of soil organic matter.

This degradation directly impacts:

1. Crop yields: Declining soil fertility reduces crop productivity. For instance, monocropping in Punjab has depleted nutrients, leading to lower yields, while erosion in Rajasthan affects wheat and barley production. ?
2. Farmer livelihoods: Decreasing agricultural income often traps smallholders in poverty, forcing them to migrate to cities or engage in less profitable nonfarm activities. For example, soil degradation in Tamil Nadu has driven many farmers into low-paying construction work.
3. Food security: Soil degradation limits crop production, reducing food availability and causing nutritional deficiencies in farming households. In Chhattisgarh, poor irrigation infrastructure combined with soil erosion has led to lower yields, directly affecting dietary needs.

Pathways to sustainable soil management

Strategic and tactical approaches to soil management: Strategic approaches focus on long-term solutions to restore and sustain soil health. These include addressing soil acidity and salinity through amendments like lime, improving soil organic matter (SOM) by incorporating crop residues, compost, and practicing agroforestry, and adopting conservation agriculture (CA) practices such as reduced tillage and crop diversification. Developing local water resources like farm ponds and check dams ensures supplemental irrigation, reducing risks of crop failure in rainfed systems. Balanced nutrient management, involving a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers, and the use of soil testing tools optimize fertility and minimize degradation. Strategic investments also prioritize resilience through agroecological farming systems that integrate livestock, crops, and trees to improve long-term soil health.? Tactical approaches are short-term, adaptive strategies to manage risks and variability, particularly in rainfed systems. Flexible agronomy allows farmers to adjust crop choices and fertilizer inputs based on rainfall predictions and yield potential. Participatory learning, such as Farmer Field Schools (FFS), equips farmers with localized solutions. Risk mitigation tactics like crop diversification, staggered planting, and supplemental irrigation stabilize production. Decision-making tools, including nutrient calculators and rainfall forecasts, enable informed, adaptive practices. Integrating these approaches empowers farmers to balance productivity with sustainability while navigating climate and resource uncertainties.

Overcoming barriers to adoption

For sustainable practices to succeed, farmer education ?and access to resources are essential:

1. Farmer training programs: Initiatives such as the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) equip farmers with skills in organic farming, integrated nutrient management, and conservation practices.
2. Farmer field schools (FFS): These hands-on programs encourage peer learning and experimentation, fostering community-driven solutions.
3. Access to inputs: Affordable access to organic fertilizers, soil amendments, and irrigation systems is critical. Government programs like the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) aim to reduce water wastage and subsidize sustainable inputs.

Modern technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing soil health management:

1. Soil health monitoring: Tools like in-situ soil testing kits and mobile apps provide real-time assessments of nutrient levels, pH, and organic matter. The Soil Health Card Scheme promotes judicious fertilizer use.
2. Precision agriculture: Technologies like GPS and sensors optimize input applications, reducing waste and environmental harm. Maharashtra has adopted smart irrigation systems to conserve water and improve soil moisture.
3. Drones and remote sensing: Equipped with sensors, drones monitor soil health and crop growth, enabling timely interventions to manage soil degradation effectively.

As originally published in The Pioneer Hyderabad