What do we have in our mind when we talk of second green revolution?
- Monday, July 23, 2012
- by
- Unknown
Second Green Revolution refers to practicing
sustainable agriculture. That is protecting natural resources from becoming
increasingly degraded and polluted and using production technologies that conserve
and enhance the natural resource base of crops, forests, inland and marine
fisheries.
To help bring food security to the 8
billion people projected by 2025, the world needs another gren revolution. The
green revolution that began in the 1960s helped keep food supply ahead of rising demand over past 30 years. By doubling
and tripling yields, it bought time for developing countries to start dealing
with rapid population growth. The Green Revolution raised productivity of the
three main staple foods crops-rice, wheat and corn. The second green revolution
must aim raising the productivity of other important food crops-food produced
and consumed mainly by the world’s poor.
The green revolution
did have some adverse impacts too which are being felt in the long run. Since
the emphasis was mainly on cereals like rice and wheat there was loss of
productivity as far as pulses, fruits and vegetables were concerned.
Strategies for second green revolution,
Micro irrigation system; Micro irrigation system enable direct and concentrated
application of water to root zones of crops, through specially designed
emitters and piping networks.
Organic farming; Green revolution technologies involving greater use of
synthetic agrochemicals have boosted the production but health hazard caused by
agrochemicals has brought a major shift in consumer preference toward food
quality, particularly in developed countries. Global consumers are increasingly
looking for organic food that is considered safe and hazard free. The demand
for organic food is steadily increasing both in developed and developing
countries, with annual average growth rate of 20-25%. Worldwide, over 130
countries produce certified organic products in commercial quantities.
Precision farming: Precision farming provides new solution using a system
approach for today’s agricultural issues such as the need to balance
productivity with environmental concerns. It is based on advanced information
technology. It includes describing and modeling variations in soil and plant
species and integrating agricultural practices to meet site specific
requirements. It aims at increased economic returns as well as reducing the
energy inputs and the environmental impact of agriculture.
Green agriculture; It is the system of cultivation with the help of integrated
pest management, integrated nutrient supply and integrated natural resource
management systems. Green agriculture doesn’t exclude the use of minimum
essential quantities of mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides.
Eco agriculture; It aims at mutually reinforcing relationship between
agricultural productivity and conservation of nature.
White agriculture: It is system of agriculture based on a substantial use of
micro organism, particularly fungi.
One straw revolution: It is the system of natural farming proposed by
Masanobu fukuoka. Its four principle are;
- · No cultivation (no ploughing or turning the soil.)
- · No, chemical fertilizer of prepared compost,
- · No weedind by tillage or herbicides (weeds play a part in building soil fertility; the need to be controlled but not eliminated), and
- · No dependence on chemicals or poisonous pesticides.( Source: Science Reporter )
