The Evolution of Agriculture: From Organic Beginnings to the Green Revolution
Pre and Post-Green Revolution Era: Before the 19th century, agriculture was mostly organic, relying on human and animal labour and organic manures. The early 19th-century agricultural revolution in England brought changes with the introduction of machinery, chemical fertilizers, and agrochemicals. The mid-20th century Green Revolution marked a shift to high-yielding varieties (HYVs), chemical fertilizers, and modern machinery, boosting food production but raising environmental and health concerns. In India, traditional integrated farming was replaced by Green Revolution practices in the 1960s, increasing food production fivefold but causing environmental sustainability issues due to heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Threats Posed By Green Revolution
The Green Revolution, while successful in boosting food production, brought with it several unintended consequences, including environmental degradation and health risks associated with pesticide residues in food. The growing awareness of these issues has sparked interest in alternative, sustainable agricultural practices. Organic farming has emerged as one of these alternatives, focusing on the conservation and improvement of natural resources while ensuring quality agricultural production.
Bridging the Gap between Food Security and Health Security
Bio-Inputs and Their Significance: Sustainable or organic agriculture is more than just avoiding synthetic chemicals; it’s about creating a sustainable and balanced agro-ecosystem. Bio-inputs, such as bio-fertilizers, manure, compost, and biological control agents, play a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility and promoting ecological balance. These inputs not only enhance soil organic matter but also improve water retention, soil structure and nutrient availability, making them vital for sustainable agriculture.
Centre for Excellence in Bio-Input Production
At the Centre for Excellence in Organic Input Production, we advance organic farming by developing and promoting organic inputs essential for sustainable agriculture. Our holistic approach combines traditional knowledge with modern science to create eco-friendly and economically viable organic inputs.
Our Role
We focus on research, developing innovative organic inputs that uphold organic principles while supporting modern agriculture. We collaborate with farmers, ensuring these inputs are accessible and easy to use. Through education and training, we empower farmers to adopt organic practices, fostering healthier soils and environments.
Mandates
- Research and Development: Innovating organic inputs through cutting-edge research.
- Farmer Education: Helping farmers adopt and sustain organic practices with training and resources.
- Quality Assurance: Ensuring our products meet the highest quality and safety standards.
- Sustainability Advocacy: Promoting eco-friendly farming that protects our planet and secures our food future.
- Role in Climate Change Mitigation.
We reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals by promoting organic inputs, enhancing soil health, and supporting carbon sequestration. This helps mitigate climate change and strengthens agricultural resilience. Through these efforts, we are contributing to the global fight against climate change, fostering resilient agricultural systems that can withstand the challenges of a changing climate.
Our Role in Startup Mentoring
We mentor start-ups in the organic sector, providing guidance on product development, regulatory compliance, and market strategies. By supporting these businesses, we contribute to the growth of the organic agriculture industry and sustainable development.
Product Development at the Centre for Excellence: A Focus on Innovation and Sustainability
Product development is heart of our mission at the Centre for Excellence in Bio-Input Production. We focus on creating effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly organic inputs. Our products undergo rigorous research, testing, and refinement to meet both farmers’ needs and market demands. Collaborating with line departments and industry partners ensures that our products are widely accessible to farmers committed to organic practices.
Our commitment to advancing organic agriculture is evident in the innovative products we produce at scale. These products fall into three key categories: bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and organic waste decomposers, tailored for sustainable farming, especially in Kashmir’s unique environment.
Bio-fertilizers: Harnessing Indigenous Microbes and Advanced Technologies
Our bio-fertilizers stem from extensive research into indigenous microbes and advanced technologies. These formulations are designed to fix and solubilize essential nutrients for crops, with several other benefits making them particularly effective in the cold, temperate conditions of Kashmir. By utilizing cold-tolerant microbes, our bio-fertilizers remain resilient in harsh climates. We’ve developed formulations for N-fixers, Phosphate, Potassium, Zinc, and Silicate solubilizers.
A key innovation is our Bio-N-P-K-Ca-Micronutrient Consortium, which delivers both macro and micronutrients to crops, boosting growth and yield. Additionally, we are pioneering pesticide-degrading bio-fertilizers, which reduce pesticide contamination in soils while maintaining the traditional benefits of bio-fertilizers. This dual-purpose innovation is a game-changer in promoting soil health and reducing environmental impact.
Bio-pesticides: Managing Soil-Borne Diseases with Cold-Tolerant Solutions
In the field of bio-pesticides, we have made significant advances in managing severe soil-borne diseases in agricultural and horticultural crops. Our bio-pesticides have been particularly effective against root rot in apple orchards and various vegetables. These cold-tolerant formulations are well-suited to Kashmir’s climate and also enhance soil health by solubilizing nutrients. One of our key formulations, Trichoderma, has proven highly effective in managing several soil-borne pathogens. We have also developed advanced carrier technology to extend the shelf life of our bio-pesticides, making them more practical and cost-effective for farmers.
Organic Waste Decomposers: Accelerating Composting in Temperate Climates
Our third category of products, organic waste decomposers, is tailored to address composting challenges in temperate climates like Kashmir. These decomposers drastically reduce the decomposition time, cutting the process in half even under cooler conditions. This innovation enhances the efficiency of organic waste management, promoting the rapid recycling of organic matter back into the soil. As a result, it significantly improves soil fertility and structure, supporting sustainable farming practices in the region.
At the Centre of Excellence in Organic Input Production, we focus on developing products that drive sustainable agriculture and meet the unique needs of farmers in Kashmir. Our bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and organic waste decomposers are just the start of our commitment to promoting effective, eco-friendly farming. By continuously innovating and working closely with the farming community, we aim to make a lasting positive impact on agriculture, both locally and beyond.
(Authors are professors at SKUAST-K’d, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura and can be reached at: [email protected])
