Context

• India, with a staggering population of 145 crore, has made significant strides in achieving self-reliance in food and nutrition over the past seven decades.
• These accomplishments have primarily been driven by the expansion of agricultural lands and the intensification of practices during the Green Revolution.
• Current agricultural systems may fall short of meeting this goal due to their unsustainable practices and mounting ecological costs.

Challenges of Current Agricultural Practices

• Soil Degradation
  • The overuse of chemical fertilisers has caused significant depletion of soil health.
  • Over six decades of reliance on synthetic inputs have reduced the soil organic carbon content from a healthy 2.4% in 1947 to a critically low 0.4% today.
  • This degradation not only undermines the soil's ability to support crops but also jeopardizes its role in carbon sequestration, further exacerbating climate change.
  • Soil with organic carbon below the threshold of 1.5% loses its arability, making it unsuitable for sustainable farming.
• Economic Costs
  • The financial burden of soil degradation is staggering. Over 70 years, the loss of soil organic carbon alone has cost India ₹47.7 lakh crore ($564 billion), translating to an annual loss of ₹68,243 crore ($8.06 billion).
  • Additionally, the Indian government spends ₹2 lakh crore ($25 billion) annually on subsidies for synthetic fertilisers.
  • These subsidies, while intended to support farmers, inadvertently encourage excessive and inefficient use of chemical inputs, further degrading the soil.
• Declining Fertiliser Efficiency
  • The response ratio of fertilisers has seen a sharp decline over the decades. In the 1960s, every kilogram of NPK fertiliser produced 12.1 kilograms of grain.
  • By 2010-2017, this had dropped to just 5.1 kilograms, signalling diminishing returns on fertiliser use.
  • This decline is a direct consequence of deteriorating soil health, making it increasingly difficult to achieve high yields.
• Environmental Impact
  • The environmental costs of India’s current agricultural practices are profound.
  • The use of synthetic fertilisers contributes to approximately 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, costing the country an additional ₹14,813 crore ($1.75 billion).
  • These emissions exacerbate global warming and threaten the long-term sustainability of agriculture.
  • Furthermore, intensive farming practices deplete natural resources such as groundwater and reduce biodiversity, compounding the ecological crisis.
• Food Security Risk
  • If the current trends persist, India could face food shortages as early as 2035.
  • This risk is driven by a combination of factors: the growing population, increased food demand, declining soil productivity, and the adverse impacts of climate change.
  • Without immediate intervention to address these issues, India’s ability to feed its citizens will be severely compromised.
• Social and Health Costs
  • Beyond the economic and environmental impacts, intensive agriculture poses significant social and health challenges.
  • The widespread use of chemical inputs has led to contamination of water and food supplies, adversely affecting public health.
  • Additionally, the heavy financial reliance on synthetic inputs traps farmers in a cycle of debt, contributing to rural distress and social inequities.

Necessary Steps to Address these Challenges

• A Shift Towards Sustainable Agriculture
  • To address these challenges, India must transition to a climate-resilient, nature-based agricultural model.
  • Such a system prioritises ecological intensification over traditional intensification, reducing dependence on synthetic inputs while enhancing soil health, biodiversity, and overall productivity.
  • Regenerative farming, rooted in the principles of agroecology, emerges as a promising alternative.
  • This approach reduces input costs, conserves natural resources, and boosts farm productivity, while also promoting the well-being of farmers and consumers alike.
• Mainstreaming Regenerative Practices
  • The Prime Minister’s National Mission on Natural Farming serves as a critical step toward safeguarding Indian agriculture.
  • By mainstreaming regenerative practices, India can ensure food, nutritional, and ecological security.
  • Studies have demonstrated that community-managed natural farming not only improves agricultural output but also builds social capital, enhances the health of farming communities, and fosters environmental sustainability.
• The Need for Evidence and Policy Reform
  • For India to fully embrace regenerative farming, intensive and longitudinal research is necessary across all 15 agro-climatic zones.
  • Such studies will provide scientific evidence of the benefits of regenerative practices, helping to create awareness and inform policy frameworks.
  • Disseminating this evidence will also strengthen political will, creating the development of large-scale models for adopting sustainable agriculture.
  • Agroecological principles must guide this transformation and these include biological pest control, nutrient cycling, soil health enhancement, and biodiversity conservation.
  • A knowledge-intensive approach, supported by participatory and decentralised pedagogies, will empower farmers to implement these practices effectively.

Way Forward

• A Radical Transformation in Agriculture
  • India’s vision of achieving net zero status by 2070 aligns with the goals of redesigning its agricultural systems.
  • By focusing on regenerative farming and ecological intensification, India can mitigate the risks of climate change, reduce hidden costs of agriculture, and ensure long-term food security.
  • A radical transformation of the agricultural paradigm, underpinned by robust evidence and policy support, is essential to secure the nation's nutritional and ecological future.
• Building a Scientific and Policy Framework
  • Redesigning Indian agriculture requires a comprehensive strategy grounded in scientific evidence and participatory approaches.
  • Intensive field research across India’s 15 agro-climatic zones is essential to validate the benefits of regenerative farming and generate localised solutions.
  • Public dissemination of this evidence can foster awareness, political will, and policy support for scaling up sustainable practices.
  • Moreover, knowledge-intensive systems supported by decentralised pedagogies can empower farmers with the skills and resources to adopt agroecological principles.

Conclusion

• India stands at a crossroads in its agricultural journey and the current model of intensive agriculture is unsustainable and poses significant risks to food security, ecological balance, and economic stability.
• A radical shift towards regenerative and ecological farming is the need of the hour because regenerative farming holds the key to balancing productivity with environmental stewardship.
• By embracing this transformation, India can ensure its agricultural system remains resilient, productive, and sustainable, securing a healthier and more prosperous future for its people and the planet.