2024, Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part D

author(s)
Mathikere Shivaraju Apoorva and Kanchan Kundlas

abstract
Intensive agricultural practices, driven by the need to maximize crop yields and meet global food demands, have profound negative impacts on the environment and ecosystems. These practices often involve excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, monocropping, and large-scale irrigation systems. Such activities degrade soil quality, reduce biodiversity, and contribute to water pollution through runoff laden with agrochemicals. The over extraction of water for irrigation strains freshwater resources, while deforestation and land conversion for agricultural purposes lead to habitat destruction and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, monocropping increases vulnerability to pests and diseases, necessitating further pesticide use, which disrupts natural ecosystems and harms non-target species, including pollinators. There is pressing need for sustainable agricultural methods to mitigate environmental degradation and preserve ecosystem health while ensuring food security. Sustainable agricultural practices like conservation agriculture, minimum disturbance of soil, organic farming, use of indigenous technical knowledge (ITKs), climate smart agriculture etc. can minimize the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agriculture and allied activities and can transform sector into less carbon intensive, thereby minimizing the global warming and pace of climate change.