“Ecology is permanent economy – S.Bahuguna”
In the recent past we have seen dramatic changes in our climate and its impact on humanity, which has led to the question, the existence of humankind and its sustenance? And the prolonged future we are going to embark on. It is very evident the changes we are making around us for our benefit and ease, rather than adapting to it we are molding nature for our cause, though knowing the very consequences it can load on us. We must realize this, that nature will thrive anyhow, but what about human society, will we be able to adapt to it in the near future?
We have exploited our nature to such an extent that reversing it could now lead to human extinction. But hope is our only plan, only if we make it work. There have been many technological advancements in the field to regenerate soil and for better understanding of the top soil, but there’s a step back to our traditional ways with a touch of modernization in the field of agriculture to lessen the impact of climate change.
It’s been ages we have been modifying our ground for the betterment of our soil so that we can get good quality food and that to in hurry but in the process, we are forgetting that in dire need to maximize our output, we are compromising to optimize our resources which is ultimately causing us a grave danger. If we look at the NASA image of earth’s report on CO2, it’s been increasing for obvious reasons (global warming) compromising the quality content of our nature, not exhausting the list harming our nature. Even though we are conscious about the very cause, what are we doing about it?
To dig in we lost almost two-third of the land to desertification, like tilling, we are destroying the top soil and for the record we already lost the majority of it. And in addition to it, we have been using chemicals in abundance, haven’t we? I mean it surely does benefit in killing pests and germs, but it so does kill the microbes present in our body indirectly when we take these Agri products. Think of all the possible ways it can reach us, be it like water or like a mother breast feeding her baby causing DDT(Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) problems, stunting etc.
By destroying the top soil what we are doing is creating an abundance of warm air, ultimately leading to a warm vortex. The method of tiling the soil causes the giveaway of the carbon which had been accumulated or sequestered in the top soil over the course of many years. The solution we are looking for is sustainable agriculture.
Firstly, we need to keep in mind that everything around us is connected i.e., climate change and soil. By desertification, the warm air is pushing off the cloud formation, though we are giving away evaporation but what we really need is transpiration through plants which will not only provide humidity but also good rain year as 40% of the rain is through inland water cycle and rest being from ocean.
Secondly, also by controlling the grazing pattern by animals. We never thought about it, it seemed like a random pattern by cattle to feed them but it’s much more than that, it helps in carbon sequestration, with proper timing and patches to be grazed, we can control the carbon leakage from the soil. We already are in that stage, to not compromise the quality of the land, which in turn will lead to poor families to migrate, social breakdown, civil war (for resources). With the degradation of the land, it will create a drastic shift in the population to concentrate in one particular region of the earth to fulfil the needs of resources, which again is a chaos out of order.
One of the initiatives in France – 4 for 1000, with a vision to reduce 0.4% carbon from the atmosphere. It has also been spreading the awareness that soil can hold more carbon than what plants and atmosphere can hold combined, but to approach the vision we need to adapt to sustainability and green farming. There are some other methods we can adopt:
· Biochar – in which charcoal produced by pyrolysis of biomass, yet in absence of oxygen, is used for soil health benefit. It is stable solid carbon and can endure in soil for 1000 years.
· Perennial crops – use of these crops which are more stable than annual crops, long root and better carbon sequestering.
· Silvo pasture -combination of trees, forage plants, livestock in an intensely managed system.
· Vertical farming – it can be used to reduce land pressure for farming and providing those lands to regenerate themselves, to reduce carbon emission and increase carbon sequestration. It uses less pesticides or fungicides, providing healthier, safer food products and also less use of water.
· Permaculture – holistic approach to agriculture that provides for human needs with high quality food, fuel, medicines, building materials while enhancing ecosystem and communities. It is seen as a contrast to intensive farming techniques which makes land unfit for agriculture. The principles related to permaculture are:
o Observe and interact
o Catch and store energy
o Obtain a yield
o Self-regulation and feedback
o Renewable energy
o No waste
o Diversity
For every 1% increase in organic matter, there is going to be 10 more tons of carbon sequestration.
Once we build resilience in the ecosystem, we wouldn’t care much about subsidies by the government (reducing fiscal burden). What we are doing is producing, exhausting the land than land being left fallow. But once the regenerative approach is used, year on year the Eco cycle of nature will continue, enhancing the quality of soil and food.
It is in a sense broader than health, as it ensures minimum impact on climate change while supporting global food sustainability and accessibility to all.
Sento 