Agriculture affects bioldiversity in many ways.
- Many species are wiped out when forests, grasslands and wetlands are cleared for agriculture.
- Modern agriculture has brought with it a small number of high yielding crops. Thousands of naturally occurring varieties of crops which were drought and diseases-resistant have probably been lost forever.
Infact on human health
- Harmful chemicals used in fertilizers and pesticides contaminate drinking water and cause health problems.
- Sometimes the harmful chemicals are absorbed into the crops. Then they enter the food chain and affect the health of all those who consume these food crops.
Impact of animal husbandry on the environment
- Overgrazing by cattle leads to soil erosion. This causes formation of deserts.
- Anmals release methane, a gas which leads to global warming. About 16 percent of metcane released into the atmoshpere comes from the animals.
- The waste from slaughter houses polluted land and water bodies.
Agriculture-planning and management
There is an urgent need for planning and management of agriculture practices in our country.
- The government should engage in a focussed research and testing program and integrate experience with innovation.
- A structured program should be in place to get the feedback from farmers so that changes may be made in the system according to their conveience.
- The government should established an ongoine and appropriately funded methodical research and development program.
- Farmers and agricultureists should cooperate to share information and data to enable the widespread use of the suggested change in the implementation of techniques.
- The metods adopted should be environment friendly so as to be sustainable.
One of the most important global goals in agriculture is food security. This includes not only supply and demand, but also availbility, safety and affordability of food. Other goals in agriculture are gloable food trading and setting and achieving of quality standards. A multi-disciplinary approach to technology innovation could improve the ways in which agricultural resources are used and managed.