Sustainable Agriculture
Promoting LEISA (Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture) practices
Agroecological farming integrates crop diversity, soil biology, natural pest regulation, water conservation and community knowledge to create productive farming systems that work with nature rather than against it. Such systems contribute simultaneously to food security, environmental conservation, climate resilience and improved farm incomes.
Ecological restoration forms the backbone of sustainable dryland agriculture. Conserving soil moisture, improving organic matter, harvesting rainwater, increasing on-farm vegetation and protecting biodiversity help create favourable microclimates that buffer crops against drought and erratic rainfall. Conserving natural resources like water and soils with better management practices (NRM)will be the key for sustainable production in dryland areas. LEISA (Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture) focuses on improving productivity with minimum impact on ecosystems.
Small holder farmers are guided to adopt climate resilient farming systems. Beginning with what they are growing, gradually, farmers are guided to diversify their cropping systems using climate resilient practices like in situ rainwater management practices, treating the seed, better sowing practices, improving soils through organic manures (ICM) and biological control of pests and diseases (IPM), mixed farming etc.
Promotion of LEISA practices enables farmers to substantially reduce dependence on costly external inputs while increasing the use of locally available biological resources. Practices such as integrated nutrient management, biological pest management, mixed cropping, intercropping and integrated farming improve ecosystem functions, lower cultivation costs and reduce environmental pollution. The resulting chemical-free production contributes to healthier food systems while restoring ecological balance.
Promoting Crop diversity
Enhancing crop diversity on the farm through mixed cropping is a key component.Increasing on-farm vegetation and protecting biodiversity help create favourable microclimates that buffer crops against drought and erratic rainfall. Equally important is the revival of traditional millet-based farming systems. Millets are naturally adapted to dryland conditions, require significantly less water and external inputs, and provide highly nutritious food for rural households. Reintegrating millets into farming systems will strengthen biodiversity, improve household nutrition and enhance resilience to climate.
Integrating farm based enterprises
As farmers in rainfed regions can grow only a single crop, their income would be supplemented by promoting household farm enterprises like nutrition gardens, nursery raising, organic manure production and backyard poultry, through involvement of women. Farm based enterprises while providing the necessary support to farming lead to better access to food, income and nutrition and generate feed for livestock and plant manurial biomass.
Supplemental activities
Livestock is crucial for practising sustainable agriculture practices. Supplemental activities like Azolla Production, Fodder production are encouraged to supplement animal feed. Supplementing azolla as fodder feed enhances the quality of milk. High yielding fodder varieties help in accessing necessary feed for the livestock, especially in dryland areas. Besides, Animal health camps are organised towards improving livestock health.
Promoting small farm equipment
Small equipment like cycle weeders, that can be operated by women and reduce drudgery are promoted. With labour shortages looming large, access to farm equipment is one of the strategies to encourage farmers to remain in farming. Farmers are introduced to farm equipment through demonstrations. They are helped to access the equipment by helping them avail government subsidies or facilitate collective sharing of community owned farm equipments.
