| Abstract | Out of the concern of excessive use of agro-chemicals and declining state of soil fertility, crop
productivity, degradation of land and water resources an NGO is pursuing efforts to promote
ecological farming system against the present green revolution based modem agriculture. This
study attempts to evaluate the sustainability of two production systems in terms of
environmental soundness, economic viability and social acceptability. To measure the
sustainability 14 indicators were developed and analyzed based on data collected through
household survey, soil sample analysis, crop cutting survey, observations and discussion with
key informants.
The study finds considerable differences between two farming systems in terms of ecological
sustainability, economic viability and social acceptability. Land use pattern, cropping pattern,
soil fertility management, insect and pest management are found significantly better in the
ecological farming system, because cropping diversification, mixed cropping, use of organic
fertilizers, cultivation of legumes are relatively higher in this type of farming system, whereas
cultivation. of HYVs paddy, area under monocropping, and use of chemical fertilizers are
found significantly higher in the modem farming system. Soils, in terms of organic matter
content, nitrogen, sulfur and zinc are better in the ecological village, whereas in terms of pH,
and phosphorus are better in the modem village. Methods applied to control pest and diseases
also significantly different in the two systems. Farmers in the modem village use pesticides,
whereas farmers in the ecological village adopt integrated methods, including application of
local herbal insecticides. Yield and financial returns found higher in the modem village, but
the stability of yield and input self-sufficiency are higher in the ecological village. Economic
returns without taking into account environmental cost are almost same in both villages, but
value addition per unit of land is slightly higher in the ecological village. This indicates that
the ecological village is better even from economic perspective. Ecological farming system is
found relatively more labor intensive and less risk prone. Women's participation and farmers'
access to information also found relatively better in the ecological village. Adequacy of food
grain is relatively higher in the modern village due to higher yield of crops and relatively
larger proportion of land under cereal production. However, there is not much variation in
terms of food purchasing capability of farm households.
It is evident that although yield and financial returns are slightly higher in the modern farming
system, it uses much higher amounts of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, leading to negative
externalities, including land degradation, water pollution, adverse impact on human and
animal health. If these costs are taken into account, the ecological farming system appears
much better.
This study concludes that by promoting this type of farming government can achieve twin
goals of environmental conservation and economic growth on a sustainable basis through
changing government's present short-run growth oriented policy and reorienting the overall
supports services, including research, extension, credit, market and infrastructure. Cropping
diversification, integrated plant nutrient management, integrated pest management,
reorientation of research, extension and support services and withdrawal of subsidy on
chemical fertilizers and diesel are the major policy measures conducive to achieve the goals
stated above. |