This article is designed to give an insight into the Sustainable Agrifood System and its significance in modern farming, as well as the role of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) and the 16th Agricultural Science Congress (ASC) in promoting sustainability in the Agri-Food System.
The Significance of the 16th Agricultural Science Congress
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare recently inaugurated the 16th ASC in Kochi, Kerala, with the primary aim to promote Sustainability in the Agri-Food System. The congress, organized by NAAS, is aimed at producing recommendations that will guide the agriculture sector towards sustainability.
The ASC serves as a forum for professionals in the agricultural field to share insights on critical areas related to agriculture and sustainability. On the other hand, NAAS, a prestigious organization in India, was established to promote agricultural science and research, providing a platform for agricultural scientists to engage in significant discussions and advancements in the field of agriculture.
Sustainable Agri Food Systems Explained
Sustainable agri-food systems employ a holistic approach to agriculture that is environmentally friendly, socially just, and economically viable. These systems aim to meet current food requirements while ensuring long-term sustainability, reducing environmental impact, improving livelihoods, and promoting social well-being.
The Urgency for Adopting Sustainability in Agri Food Systems
Several factors contribute to the urgency of adopting sustainability in agri food systems. These include the increasing global demand for food, environmental degradation due to unsustainable agricultural practices, and challenges posed by climate change. Sustainable practices are vital to address these challenges and reduce the agricultural sector’s contribution to climate change.
The Adoption of Sustainability in Agri Food Systems
Sustainability in agri-food systems can be achieved through advanced technological interventions, genome editing and modern technologies, and transitioning to carbon-neutral agricultural practices. These methods can reduce negative environmental impacts, address limitations of traditional breeding methods, and mitigate climate impacts.
Issues in Adopting a Sustainable Agrifood System
Several issues impede the adoption of a sustainable agrifood system. These include food waste and loss, climate change and environmental impact, resource scarcity, biodiversity loss, and dominance of monoculture farming. To overcome these challenges, it is vital to address food waste and loss, implement sustainable practices, efficiently use resources, promote biodiversity-friendly farming approaches, and encourage crop diversity.
Government Initiatives to Promote Agrifood Systems
Several initiatives have been launched by the Indian government to promote agrifood systems. The establishment of an Agriculture Infrastructure Fund aims to reduce post-harvest losses by creating farm gate and agriculture marketing infrastructure in rural areas.
Additionally, a dedicated micro-irrigation fund has been set up to conserve water resources by increasing water usage efficiency at the farm level. India has also developed various abiotic stress-tolerant varieties of different crops. Furthermore, to address under-nutrition and malnutrition, India runs the world’s largest food-based safety net programmes.
Conclusion
The integration of sustainability into agri-food systems is crucial in addressing increasing food demand, environmental challenges, and climate change impacts. It ensures the well-being of farmers and society at large. As such, the role of forums like ASC and organizations like NAAS becomes integral in promoting and implementing sustainable practices in the agriculture sector.
Finally, the article includes some previous year questions from the UPSC Civil Services Examination that focused on the significance of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as the ‘Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative,’ Integrated Farming System (IFS) in sustaining agricultural production, and the reformative steps taken by the government to make the food grain distribution system more effective.
