| Author | Maskey, Rabi Kiran |
| Call Number | AIT SSPR no. HS-92-03 |
| Subject(s) | Sustainable agriculture--Developing countries
|
| Note | A special study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Special studies project report ; no. HS-92-03 |
| Abstract | Increasing pressure of population growth and degradation of natural resources in the
LDCs have made the establishment and maintenance of more productive yet sustainable
agricultural systems ever more necessary. This is particularly true for resource-poor farmers
who make up the majority of the population in LDCs. These farmers cannot afford even
low-input technology for improving the productivity of traditional varieties under rather
unfavorable environmental conditions. This is why even the Green Revolution has had
negative effects for these farmers who usually operate on low-productivity, marginal land
thus causing environmental damage entailing long-term losses.
New approaches are needed to help these farmers without which there will be no
development in the real sense in these countries. Many critical sustainable agriculture issues
are related to population growth, poverty and inappropriate agricultural policies. They all
place unprecedented pressure on land, forest, water and other natural resources. It is
recognized that poverty, environmental degradation and population growth are all related
to each other. None of these problems can be solved in isolation. There is a need for a
range of agricultural and agriculture related policies, strategies and activities that can
maintain the agricultural production or even improve it on a sustainable basis suitable for
resource-poor farmers. Government policies should play an important role in the allocation
of resources and products to the agricultural sector in favor of resource-poor farmers and
to sustain their agricultural systems. Altering input and output pricing, exchange rate
modification, and tax and subsidy reforms in favor of resource-poor farmers can be justified
on the ground that they help in internalizing the externalities of an economy. Policies
favoring land conservation and management of the natural resource base can certainly
ensure sustainable and secure livelihoods for future generations. Moreover, governments
should pursue land policies providing incentives to resource-poor farmers.
Appropriate technologies for sound agricultural development, although known to
some extent, need to be further advanced and modified to fit local condition. Research in
the field of agriculture can play a very important role in this regard, in which research
should be "farmer centered". This should include the recognition of the holistic nature of
farming systems, the resolve for multi-disciplinary analysis and the appreciation of the
importance of on-farm research work.
There should be no doubt that sustainable agricultural development is an achievable
goal. For this, it is necessary for LDCs to make agricultural sustainability a major goal of
the country's economic development planning. |
| Year | 1992 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Special studies project report ; no. HS-92-03 |
| Type | Special Study Project Report (SSPR) |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Weber, Karl E. ;Routray, Jayant Kumar
|
| Degree | Special Studies Project Report (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1992 |