Chennai: Less than four per cent Indian farmers have adopted sustainable agricultural
practices and systems, according to an independent study released today by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
The study, supported by the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), finds that scaling up sustainable agriculture would be critical to improve farm incomes and bolster Indiaās nutrition security in a climate-constrained future. States such as Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim have already taken a lead in sustainable agriculture.
Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman, NITI-Aayog, said, ‘We need to rethink our current agricultural practices. Our focus is on promoting sustainable agriculture, especially natural farming, in India. This would benefit small and marginal farmers. It is also suitable in drier regions of the country as it requires lesser water. Embracing sustainable agriculture could not only lead to better incomes for farmers but also have multiple environmental benefits.’
Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW, said, ‘We need a fundamental rethink of how we grow food and what we eat. India needs to mainstream sustainable agriculture. It has the potential to help diversify farmersā sources of food and income, make farming climate-resilient, optimise use of natural resources and re-build ecosystems. It also offers a vital alternative to input-intensive farming. We must investigate more and follow the science.’