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AGRI-LEARNING LAB

Promoting the Study of Agriculture in Liberia

What’s the key role of farmers in providing food while ensuring sustainable agriculture is maintained?

What’s the key role of farmers in providing food while ensuring sustainable agriculture is maintained?

Those who practise sustainable agriculture seeks to integrate only three critical objectives into their farming operations: Healthy environment; Economic profitability; and Social and economic equity. Every individual who is involved in the food system— be it growers, or food processors, or maybe the distributors, the retailers, and consumers —should play a role in ensuring that there exist a sustainable agricultural system.

Those who practise sustainable agriculture seeks to integrate only three critical objectives into their farming operations: Healthy environment; Economic profitability; and Social and economic equity. Every individual who is involved in the food system— be it growers, or food processors, or maybe the distributors, the retailers, and consumers —should play a role in ensuring that there exist a sustainable agricultural system. Currently, there are quite a number of practices commonly used by people working in the sustainable food systems and sustainable agriculture. Farmers may use different methods to minimize water use, promote soil health, and lower pollution levels on their respective farms. On the other hand, consumers and retailers should also be concerned with sustainability by looking for “values-based” foods that are planted using techniques that promote the universe wellbeing – methods that are environmentally friendly. This is critical because farmer alone cannot help improve the health of the universe. Even researchers in this field often cross disciplinary lines with their work, this includes combining economics, chemistry, biology, engineering, community development, and many other disciplines. This clearly shows that sustainable farming is more than collections of practices. It also involves negotiation: a pull and a push between the competing personal interests of an individual farmer or of people in a certain community as they progress to solve complex problems food growing and environmental issues. In the past few decades, there has been emergence of movements to question the role of the agricultural practices in promoting activities that contribute to environmental social problems. Today, such movements campaigning for sustainable agriculture has garnered increased support and acceptance within the mainstream agriculture. Sustainable agriculture addresses many environmental and social concerns, as well as innovative and economically viable opportunities for farm workers, growers, consumers, policymakers and some other different categories within the eco-system within the entire food system. Sustainable farming integrates three main goals for those who practise it:- Environmental health; Economic profitability; and Social and economic equity. A variety of practices have greatly contributed to the above goals. Farmers in different capacities and demographic locations have shared and applied different methods contributing to sustainability. Despite the diversity of perspectives and people, stewardship of both natural and human resources has been of prime importance. Stewardship of human resources include:- Consideration of social responsibilities like working and living conditions of farm workers Needs of rural communities; and Consumer health and safety both in the present and the future. On the other hand, stewardship of land and natural resources involve enhancing and maintenance of vital resource base for the long term. It is worth noting that the transition to sustainable agriculture requires a series of small, but realistic steps. Personal goals and family economics influence how far or how fast participants can go in the transition. It is also good to acknowledge that each small decision can result into a huge difference and contribute to advancing the entire system further in agricultural sustainability. Specific strategies for realizing these broad goals. Farming and Natural Resources If the production of food degrades, then the natural resource base together with the ability of future generations to flourish and produce at the same time declines. Natural resources degradation is as a result of non-sustainable farming practices. Contamination of Water Of all the resources, water is the main resource that has helped agriculture to prosper, and it is always major limiting factor when mismanaged. When water is reserved and well managed, it could be of importance especially during the dry season. Farmers usually develop drought-resistant farming system with water management actions that:- Improve water conservation and storage measures; Provide incentives for selection of drought-tolerant crop species; Use of reduced water-volume irrigation systems; Managing crops to reduce water loss; or Not planting at all. The use of drought resistant crops has also been adapted by many farmers. Pesticide and nitrate contamination through fertilizer applied on soil can be reduced using practices like precision application of pesticides, fertilizer, water for irrigation, herbicides among many other chemicals. This ensures that only places that are in need get the right amount of applications. Soil Soil erosion is a serious threat to continued ability to produce adequate food for the universe. Many practices have been incorporated and developed by farmer to keep soil in place, which include: Reducing or eliminating tillage; Managing irrigation to reduce runoff; and Keeping the soil covered with plants or mulch. Conclusion Sustainable production practices involve variety of approaches. Any specific strategies applied by a farmer must take into account topography, pests, and local availability of inputs, soil characteristics, climate, and the individual grower’s goals. Despite farm-specific and the nature of sustainable agriculture, several principles might be applied to help growers’ select appropriate agricultural sustainability management practices like:- Selection of varieties and species that are well suited to your farm and to conditions on the site; Diversification of crops which should include livestock and cultural practices to enhance the economic and biological stability of the farm; Management of the soil protect and to enhance soil quality; Efficient use of inputs; and Consideration of farmers’ goals and lifestyle choices.

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