Recently there were 2 people from Britain who made some small films on Grampari and took lots of great photos. I have put a couple of the videos below. They are part of a non-profit organization called 'Security Is...?' Here is a link to their facebook page and their work. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Security-Is/396494513775093 Here is a video of Renie from Grampari, our geologist working on watershed management. http://vimeo.com/60013230
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The questioned that must be asked and has to be answered before any importance is to be given to anything: 'why?' There are so many answers out there and I am going to try to add another one to them so bear with me. Since about 10,000 years ago, agriculture has been the fundamental activity for most people in the world. It is one of humankind's most basic activities because people need to nourish themselves daily. History, culture and community values are embedded in agriculture. When such a basic human activity such as growing healthy food for your family and community is tainted, it is indeed a sad state to be in. The story about the ill-effects of chemical based industrial farming and its harmful effects on human health and the environment is becoming increasingly familiar. Industrialized, chemical farming is based on the principle of faster and greater production at any cost. Its main goal is economical and aims to gain profits through trade and export of crops that are in high demand. In order to achieve these goals, it employs methods such as mono-cropping which means that large fields are planted with only one crop variety that is economically valuable. To generate greater and faster yields, it promotes the use of chemical fertilizers and genetically modified seeds that require specific kinds of fertilizer to grow. Since mono-cropping creates more susceptibility to pests, chemical pesticides are also widely used to control the pest problems and maintain the high yield. One of the most common arguments for chemical agriculture is that it is the only answer to our growing human population and to feed the starving people of the world. But is chemical farming truly the answer to our hunger? Effects of Chemical Farming are broadly seen on the natural environment, farmers, and human health which are all interconnected. UNEP’s latest brief lays out the current state of agriculture in the world and the need to move towards organic farming. It focuses on how agriculture faces, and contributes to, several challenges that involve enormous economic, social and environmental costs; • Globally, the growth rate of agricultural productivity is declining, and in many countries productivity is actually falling • The impacts of unsustainable agro-chemical use are increasingly evident. Agriculture is now a major cause of biodiversity loss. Land scarcity and land degradation associated with agriculture are rising. Increased erosion and the loss of key ecosystem services can also be linked to chemical-based agricultural practices. • Agriculture accounts for 70 per cent of global freshwater use and is also responsible for most surface water pollution. The reason for the decline in agricultural productivity is the degradation of the soil of the fields and the adjoining ecosystems. Due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the essential nutrients and micro-organisms in the soil are depleted resulting in ‘dead soil’. These fertilizers and chemicals often run off into streams and rivers, and indirectly affect the plants, birds, bees, and other animal life in and around the water through direct intake and/or bio-magnification. • About 13-15 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from [chemical based] agriculture, mainly due to its heavy reliance on nitrogen fertilizers. Nitrous oxide has global warming potential that is 310 times greater than CO2. • “Agriculture [...] is ranked as one of the three most hazardous industries together with mining and construction. [...] Exposure to pesticides and other agrochemicals constitute major occupational hazards.” Every year, despite being highly underreported, an estimated 2 to 5 million agricultural workers suffer from severe pesticide poisoning and related illnesses, of which 40,000 are fatal. Fertilizers usually contain nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Of these, nitrogen in particular has been associated with health problems. Nitrogen, which occurs as 30 nitrites, nitrates, and/or ammonia, may be converted another form by chemical reactions accruing naturally in the environment. The nitrite form of nitrogen is very toxic. If taken by humans in drinking water or in food, it enters the bloodstream where it interferes with the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. Nitrites can also combine in compounds that may cause cancer in humans. If there is too much nitrogen (fertilizer) in the soil, it is absorbed into the vegetables in the form of nitrates which may be converted into nitrites under certain conditions. When you eat these vegetables, the nitrites are digested and converted into nitrosamines that can cause cancer of the stomach. • Increasing numbers of suicides, a phenomenon reported among farmers in Asia, can be attributed in part to increasing costs of inputs and increasing indebtedness, leading to shrinking profit margins.
Genetically Modified (GM) seeds and crops have been introduced into agriculture under the pretext of reducing the need for pesticides by modifying the seeds to make them pest resistant. However the GM seeds only give high yields if they are used with their companion fertilizer which is quite expensive for a poor farmer (approximately 9$ for one liter bottle). The seed companies that provide these have created a monopoly by conferring intellectual property rights on their products. For farmers this means that they are not allowed to save seeds for the next season; which has been the common practice for most farmers for several generations; and they have to buy the seeds and fertilizers every year. In order to buy these products, the farmers often take loans that they cannot repay due to high expenses and crop failures. This has led farmers to desperation and suicides. More than 250,000 farmers committed suicide in India within the span of 15 years (1995-2010) Chemical farming affects all of us directly through our food as well as indirectly through its harmful effects on the environment. What is the solution for us and the future of our children? What is Organic Farming? “Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.” IFOAM Organic farming is not new. It is the old way of farming that has existed for many years. However there is a need to revive these methods to ensure that we feed our children and ourselves healthy food and take care of nature. Organic gardening is for everyone and can be used even in your own backyard. To make sure that the food you eat is healthy, the best way to do it is to grow your own vegetables. References: IFOAM, Principles of Organic Agriculture, available from, http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/principles/index.html UNEP Brief, Agriculture: A Catalyst for Transitioning to a Green Economy, available from, http://www.unep.ch/etb/publications/Agriculture/UNEP_Agriculture.pdf Wikipedia, ‘History of Agriculture’, 2012, available from, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_agriculture P. Sainath, The Hindu, ‘In `16 years, Farm Suicides Cross a Quarter Million, 2011, available from, http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/article2577635.ece |
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