11

Sustainable Agriculture – A Lok Sustainable Agriculture – A Lok Sanjh Foundation’s Approach in Sanjh Foundation’s Approach in Pakistan.Pakistan.

(Prof. Qamar Mohy-Ud-Din)(Prof. Qamar Mohy-Ud-Din)

1.1. Why Sustainable AgricultureWhy Sustainable Agriculture. . The current food crisis the world over The current food crisis the world over

has emerged due to experiencing has emerged due to experiencing sustainable agriculture by only a few sustainable agriculture by only a few thousand communities. thousand communities.

22

The farmers and communities adopting The farmers and communities adopting regenerative technologies have regenerative technologies have substantially improved agricultural yields, substantially improved agricultural yields, after only using few or no external inputs after only using few or no external inputs

2.2. The History of Modernized The History of Modernized Agriculture.Agriculture.

Agricultural modernization has helped to Agricultural modernization has helped to transform many rural communities. These transform many rural communities. These include the loss of jobs, the furtherinclude the loss of jobs, the further

disadvantaging of women economically,disadvantaging of women economically,

33

the increasing specialization of livelihoods, the increasing specialization of livelihoods, and the growing gap between the well-off and the growing gap between the well-off and the poor etc. and the poor etc.

All countries including Pakistan, where the All countries including Pakistan, where the Green Revolution has had a significant Green Revolution has had a significant impact have seen average annual growth impact have seen average annual growth rates in the agricultural sector fall during rates in the agricultural sector fall during the 1980s, compared with the post the 1980s, compared with the post revolution period of 1965-1980.revolution period of 1965-1980.

44

3. 3. What is Sustainable AgricultureWhat is Sustainable Agriculture..

Many terms are used to describe Many terms are used to describe sustainable agriculture. These include sustainable agriculture. These include regenerative, low external input, resource-regenerative, low external input, resource-conserving, natural, eco-agriculture, and conserving, natural, eco-agriculture, and organic agriculture etc. All these terms organic agriculture etc. All these terms characterize the greater use of local characterize the greater use of local resources and knowledge. resources and knowledge.

The sustainable agriculture makes better The sustainable agriculture makes better use of internal natural control processes use of internal natural control processes and resources. and resources.

55

These include biological, cultural and These include biological, cultural and mechanical methods instead using pesticides mechanical methods instead using pesticides for controlling pests, weeds and diseases; for controlling pests, weeds and diseases; use of livestock manures, composts and use of livestock manures, composts and nitrogen-fixing crops instead of inorganic nitrogen-fixing crops instead of inorganic fertilizers; information of management fertilizers; information of management decisions should come from local resources decisions should come from local resources instead of input suppliers; and locally instead of input suppliers; and locally generated energy resources should generated energy resources should substitute the fossil fuels. substitute the fossil fuels.

66

4 4 Successful Application of Successful Application of SustainabilitySustainability

Sustainability requires that we look Sustainability requires that we look closely at the very nature of the way we closely at the very nature of the way we conceptualize sustainability and how it conceptualize sustainability and how it might be achieved. might be achieved.

Sustainable agriculture needs agricultural Sustainable agriculture needs agricultural professionals willing and able to learn professionals willing and able to learn from farmers; it needs supportive external from farmers; it needs supportive external institutions; it needs local groups and institutions; it needs local groups and institutions capable of managing institutions capable of managing resources effectively; and above all it resources effectively; and above all it needs agricultural policies that support needs agricultural policies that support these features. these features.

77

5. 5. The Transition to Sustainable The Transition to Sustainable AgricultureAgriculture

The basic challenge for sustainable The basic challenge for sustainable agriculture in the Green Revolution areas, agriculture in the Green Revolution areas, is to maintain yields at current levels, while is to maintain yields at current levels, while reducing environmental damage. reducing environmental damage.

In the low input systems, diverse and In the low input systems, diverse and complex lands, the challenge is to increase complex lands, the challenge is to increase yields per hectare while not damaging yields per hectare while not damaging natural resources. natural resources.

88

The evidence from farms and communities The evidence from farms and communities from all over the world shows that agriculture from all over the world shows that agriculture can only be persistent and sustainable when can only be persistent and sustainable when resource conserving technologies are resource conserving technologies are developed and used by local institutions and developed and used by local institutions and groups, who are supported by external groups, who are supported by external research, extension and development research, extension and development institutions acting in an enabling way. institutions acting in an enabling way.

For sustainable agriculture to spread, the For sustainable agriculture to spread, the wider policy environment must too be wider policy environment must too be enabling. enabling.

99

6. 6. Obstacles, Threats and Obstacles, Threats and Uncertainties.Uncertainties.

The greatest challenge will be to ensure The greatest challenge will be to ensure that the biases of the current development that the biases of the current development paradigm are not repeated, with the paradigm are not repeated, with the poorest and disadvantaged once again poorest and disadvantaged once again marginalized by improvements. The marginalized by improvements. The threats occur form international to local threats occur form international to local levels. levels.

1010

At international level, markets and trade At international level, markets and trade policies (e.g. WTO agreements) have been policies (e.g. WTO agreements) have been tending to depress commodity prices, so tending to depress commodity prices, so reducing returns to farmers and economies. reducing returns to farmers and economies. Agrochemical companies, too, will be Agrochemical companies, too, will be seeking to protect their markets against seeking to protect their markets against alternatives that imply reduced use of their alternatives that imply reduced use of their products. products.

1111

At national level, macro and micro economic At national level, macro and micro economic policies that hinder the development of a policies that hinder the development of a sustainable agriculture have to be targeted sustainable agriculture have to be targeted and changed. In some cases, this will be and changed. In some cases, this will be politically very difficult, particularly when it politically very difficult, particularly when it comes to implementing land reforms (as in comes to implementing land reforms (as in Pakistan), which would give farmers the Pakistan), which would give farmers the security to invest in sustainable practices. security to invest in sustainable practices.

1212

The bureaucratic nature of large institutions The bureaucratic nature of large institutions is a further threat. They face difficulties in try is a further threat. They face difficulties in try to work in a way that empowers local to work in a way that empowers local communities, as this implies giving up some communities, as this implies giving up some power. power.

The conservative nature of universities and The conservative nature of universities and teaching institutions is an obstacle to train teaching institutions is an obstacle to train agricultural professionals capable of working agricultural professionals capable of working with and for farmers. with and for farmers.

1313

Farmers themselves face transition costs in Farmers themselves face transition costs in the process of adopting sustainable the process of adopting sustainable agricultural practices and technologies, and agricultural practices and technologies, and acquiring new management and learning acquiring new management and learning skills. skills.

7 7 A Lok Sanjh Foundation’s A Lok Sanjh Foundation’s Approach to Sustainable Approach to Sustainable AgricultureAgriculture. .

In this section we will explain how the Lok In this section we will explain how the Lok Sanjh Foundation is heading towards Sanjh Foundation is heading towards

1414

sustainable agriculture by reducing the cost of sustainable agriculture by reducing the cost of production and increasing yields in complex production and increasing yields in complex and diverse agriculture, and maintaining and diverse agriculture, and maintaining yields in Green Revolution areas. yields in Green Revolution areas.

7.17.1 Mission Statement of Lok SanjhMission Statement of Lok Sanjh People centered development to reduce People centered development to reduce

poverty, enhance food security throughpoverty, enhance food security through strengthening local democracy, strengthening local democracy,

empowering women and sustainable use of empowering women and sustainable use of natural resourcesnatural resources

1515

Lok Sanjh started working with farming Lok Sanjh started working with farming communities in 1996. The idea was to find communities in 1996. The idea was to find solutions to the problems inherited from the solutions to the problems inherited from the Green Revolution (GR) technologies. It was Green Revolution (GR) technologies. It was generally believed by the farming community generally believed by the farming community that GR has negatively affected resource that GR has negatively affected resource base and biodiversity. The globalization, base and biodiversity. The globalization, WTO and other developments have further WTO and other developments have further exacerbated the situation. exacerbated the situation.

1616

The food production systems that farmers The food production systems that farmers developed over generations got directly developed over generations got directly under threat. Farmers were facing falling under threat. Farmers were facing falling farm prices and rising costs of production. farm prices and rising costs of production. Thus rural poverty had increased. Small and Thus rural poverty had increased. Small and landless farmers were more food insecure landless farmers were more food insecure than before. than before.

Lok Sanjh developed a strategy to build Lok Sanjh developed a strategy to build farmers’ capacity using local knowledge and farmers’ capacity using local knowledge and the success stories from elsewhere in Souththe success stories from elsewhere in South

1717

Asia in pest management soil rebuilding, Asia in pest management soil rebuilding, and companion crop technology, many local and companion crop technology, many local plants-based formulations were prepared plants-based formulations were prepared and tested in farmers’ fields. and tested in farmers’ fields.

Access to local seeds was considered Access to local seeds was considered important and seed banks were developed important and seed banks were developed with the active participation of farmers, with the active participation of farmers, particularly with women farmers.particularly with women farmers.

Women farmers were got engaged in Women farmers were got engaged in vegetable production, goats farming and vegetable production, goats farming and poultry production. poultry production.

1818

At present Lok Sanjh is working in more At present Lok Sanjh is working in more than 130 villages in nine districts of Punjab, than 130 villages in nine districts of Punjab, Kashmir and with partners in NWFP, Sindh Kashmir and with partners in NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan. At and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan. At national level, Lok Sanjh is member of national level, Lok Sanjh is member of Sustainable Agriculture Action Group Sustainable Agriculture Action Group (SAAG), a network of more than thirty like (SAAG), a network of more than thirty like minded organizations working on minded organizations working on sustainable agriculture. sustainable agriculture.

1919

7.27.2 Lok Sanjh means working Lok Sanjh means working together with the peopletogether with the people

Lok Sanjh is working with rural communities Lok Sanjh is working with rural communities for the last twelve years and has the for the last twelve years and has the experience to build capacity of the poor to experience to build capacity of the poor to use their skills to create their own wealth of use their skills to create their own wealth of opportunities to be out of poverty.opportunities to be out of poverty.

Strategies Followed by Lok Sanjh. Strategies Followed by Lok Sanjh.

2020

i) i) Village Food Security Programme Village Food Security Programme i) Motivated farmers to change from conventional i) Motivated farmers to change from conventional

to ecological farming. Lowers cost of production, to ecological farming. Lowers cost of production, increases income and reduces poverty. increases income and reduces poverty.

ii) Motivated farmers to adopt biodiversity system ii) Motivated farmers to adopt biodiversity system instead of mono-cropping to ensure food instead of mono-cropping to ensure food security. security.

iii) Increased organic food production for domestic iii) Increased organic food production for domestic use and marketing.use and marketing.

2121

ii) ii) Farmers Field School Farmers Field School To build capacity of farmers & Training inTo build capacity of farmers & Training in

i) Making Compost i) Making Compost

ii) Making bio-pesticides ii) Making bio-pesticides

iii)iii) Adopting IPM technology.Adopting IPM technology.

iii) iii) Green House TechnologyGreen House Technology

Involved farmers to produce off-season Involved farmers to produce off-season vegetables for domestic use and vegetables for domestic use and marketing ……. increased income. marketing ……. increased income.

2222

iv) iv) Seed BankSeed Bank

With introduction of hybrid seeds local and With introduction of hybrid seeds local and farmer seeds were vanishing. Farmers farmer seeds were vanishing. Farmers were at the mercy of multinationals. Lok were at the mercy of multinationals. Lok Sanjh: Sanjh:

i) Mobilized farmers to build and save own i) Mobilized farmers to build and save own seed by developing seed banks. seed by developing seed banks.

ii)ii) Involved women in seed saving. Involved women in seed saving.

iii)iii) Farmers exchanged seed and saved Farmers exchanged seed and saved money to buy seed from market money to buy seed from market

2323

v) v) Raising NurseriesRaising Nurseries Farmers trained in raising nurseries of Farmers trained in raising nurseries of

vegetables, crops, forest trees, fruit trees vegetables, crops, forest trees, fruit trees and medicinal plants. and medicinal plants.

Income of farmers increased and used the Income of farmers increased and used the leaves of Neem to make biopesticides. leaves of Neem to make biopesticides.

vi) vi) Farmers Research FarmsFarmers Research Farms Promoted ecological agriculture for Promoted ecological agriculture for

demonstration to other farmersdemonstration to other farmers

2424

Promoted biodiversity instead of mono-Promoted biodiversity instead of mono-cropping. cropping.

It required less water, less pest attack. It required less water, less pest attack. Farmers selected best varieties of Rice, Farmers selected best varieties of Rice,

Wheat and Vegetables.Wheat and Vegetables.

vii) vii) Strengthening Local DemocracyStrengthening Local Democracy Lok Sanjh engaged local government and Lok Sanjh engaged local government and

public representatives in development public representatives in development planning of villages. planning of villages.

Involved communities in environment Involved communities in environment friendly activities. friendly activities.

2525

viii) viii) Marketing SupportMarketing Support

As organic production is increasing Lok As organic production is increasing Lok Sanjh is helping farmers to market their Sanjh is helping farmers to market their produce at premium price in the market. produce at premium price in the market.

ix)ix) Village Eco Club & School Eco Village Eco Club & School Eco ClubsClubs

Mobilized people to take care of Mobilized people to take care of environment of village and keeping it environment of village and keeping it clean. Farmers, teachers and elected clean. Farmers, teachers and elected councilors were involved. councilors were involved.

Establishment of eco clubs in the schools. Establishment of eco clubs in the schools.

2626

x) x) Youth Empowerment & Support.Youth Empowerment & Support. Lok Sanjh mobilized young generation. Lok Sanjh mobilized young generation.

By involving students in eco-friendly By involving students in eco-friendly activities. activities.

Arranged school debates and games & Arranged school debates and games & developed competition and positive developed competition and positive thinking in youth.thinking in youth.

xi) xi) Farmers Rights Programme.Farmers Rights Programme. Establishment of Dehqan (Small farmer) Establishment of Dehqan (Small farmer)

assembly. assembly.

2727

Arranged farmers’ Rally on food Arranged farmers’ Rally on food sovereignty, GMOs, Plant Breeders’ sovereignty, GMOs, Plant Breeders’ Rights ordinance etc. Rights ordinance etc.

xii) xii) Women in Agriculture and Women in Agriculture and Development Alternatives (WADA) Development Alternatives (WADA)

Goats and poultry distributed to widows Goats and poultry distributed to widows and poor women. and poor women.

Encouraged women to develop kitchen Encouraged women to develop kitchen gardening. gardening.

2828

xiii) xiii) Grain BankGrain Bank Established to make the small farmers Established to make the small farmers

food secure & decrease their dependency food secure & decrease their dependency on market. on market.

xiv) xiv) Water HarvestingWater Harvesting In rain fed areas ponds were constructed In rain fed areas ponds were constructed

to conserve rain water and use for growing to conserve rain water and use for growing vegetables. vegetables.

xv) xv) Health CampHealth Camp Health Camps were conducted for women Health Camps were conducted for women

and children.and children.