Published: 9th Dec, 2022
Context
The Regenerative agriculture has been receiving much attention from all the stakeholders, as can be effective in building resilience of agroecosystems.
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
- Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to agriculture that focuses on the interconnection of farming systems such as, soil health, food quality, biodiversity improvement, water quality and air quality.
- It was used by Indigenous communities centuries ago, long before industrial agriculture occurred.
Principles Involved:
- Minimize soil distribution through conservation tillage
Conservation tillage is a tillage system that creates a suitable soil environment for growing a crop and that conserves soil, water and energy resources mainly through the reduction in the intensity of tillage, and retention of plant residues.
- Diversify crops to replenish nutrients and disrupt pest and disease life cycles
- Retain soil cover using cover crops
- Integrate livestock, which adds manure to the soil and serves as a source of carbon sinks.
Need of Regenerative agriculture
- The current intensive agriculture system has led to soil degradation and constant losses.
- There may not be enough soil to feed the world in the next 50 years.
- Soil fertility and biodiversity are also decreasing across the globe.
- Regenerative agriculture improves soil health through practices that increase soil organic matter, biota and biodiversity.
- It also aims at enhancing water-holding capacity and carbon sequestration.
- It facilitates soil aggregation, water infiltration, retention and nutrient cycling.
- Regenerative agriculture also reduces erosion, provides habitat and food for diverse species and is beyond sustainability.
Benefits of Regenerative agriculture:
- Improves Yield
- Minimizes Cost of Production and Increases Farmers’ Production
- Ensures Better Health
- Employment Generation
- Eliminates the application of chemical input
- Reduces Water Consumption
- Promotes Livestock Sustainability
Is Regenerative Agriculture Profitable?
- The answer is Yes. This increase in profitability was the result of two main factors: input costs and end markets.
- Decreasing Input Costs: Regenerative agricultural systems, over time, require less external inputs, primarily in the form of seed and fertilizer.
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