various developmental interventions due to their complete or partial ignorance of
these and fail to optimally utilize the intended benefits.
Moreover, sustainable agriculture is the activity of growing food and fibre in
productive and economically efficient manner, using practices that maintain or
enhance the quality of the local and surrounding environment-—soil, water, air and all
living things. It is also sustainable in supporting the health and quality of life of
individual farmers, their families and the communities as a whole. Sustainable agriculture encompasses the elements of productivity, profitability, conservation, healthy
safety and the environment. Sustainable agriculture is the need of the hour because of
the urgency to develop farming techniques, which are sustainable from environments,
production and socioeconomic point of view. It is more profitable in terms of money
and soil conservation in the long run. Sustainable agriculture means not only the
withdrawal of three things—synthetic chemicals, hybrid—genetically modified seeds
and heavy agricultural implements but also application of multi-culture, intercropping, use of farmyard manure and rampants, mulching and integrated pests management. Recognizing that agriculture is a process of food and fibre production as well
as a way of life, the categories are chosen so as to reflect its various dimensions.
• Productivity: For the needs of the farm family as well as to satisfy global food
requirements, any sustainable agricultural system must be capable of producing
high yields.
• Stability: It is necessary that the high level of productivity be maintained over
an indefinite period of time. This requires that the quality of the resources on
which production is based also be maintained and even enhanced.
• Efficiency: To be sustainable, all the resources required for agriculture—human,
animal and material—should be used in a way that is not wasteful, but maximizes output per unit input. This is especially true of non-renewable resources.
• Durability: Any crop production process is from time to time subject to stresses
of various types, such as those due to water or to pests. Sustainable systems are
intrinsically resilient in the face of such stresses.
• Compatibility: Sustainable agriculture should fit in which the human, social
and natural environments where it is located, maintaining and enhancing the
health of these environments.
• Equity: Agriculture should promote a good quality of life among the various
individuals involved in the farming activities and within families. This includes
having consideration for the standard of living, health and education of all
people in the community.
The overview and categories suggested here are meant provide a comprehensive
assessment of agricultural sustainability (Vanloon 2005). Sustainable agriculture
includes economically viable system that reduces use of the off- farm inputs such as
chemical fertilizers and pesticides and relies more on on-farm resources. In order to
be sustainable, agriculture needs to be (i) technologically feasible, (ii) economically
viable, (iii) socially acceptable and (iv) environmentally sound. Moreover, sustainability in agriculture can be achieved broadly through—efficient management of
natural resource base and integrated approaches to crop management. Agricultural
Climate Change and Natural Capital …
265
these and fail to optimally utilize the intended benefits.
Moreover, sustainable agriculture is the activity of growing food and fibre in
productive and economically efficient manner, using practices that maintain or
enhance the quality of the local and surrounding environment-—soil, water, air and all
living things. It is also sustainable in supporting the health and quality of life of
individual farmers, their families and the communities as a whole. Sustainable agriculture encompasses the elements of productivity, profitability, conservation, healthy
safety and the environment. Sustainable agriculture is the need of the hour because of
the urgency to develop farming techniques, which are sustainable from environments,
production and socioeconomic point of view. It is more profitable in terms of money
and soil conservation in the long run. Sustainable agriculture means not only the
withdrawal of three things—synthetic chemicals, hybrid—genetically modified seeds
and heavy agricultural implements but also application of multi-culture, intercropping, use of farmyard manure and rampants, mulching and integrated pests management. Recognizing that agriculture is a process of food and fibre production as well
as a way of life, the categories are chosen so as to reflect its various dimensions.
• Productivity: For the needs of the farm family as well as to satisfy global food
requirements, any sustainable agricultural system must be capable of producing
high yields.
• Stability: It is necessary that the high level of productivity be maintained over
an indefinite period of time. This requires that the quality of the resources on
which production is based also be maintained and even enhanced.
• Efficiency: To be sustainable, all the resources required for agriculture—human,
animal and material—should be used in a way that is not wasteful, but maximizes output per unit input. This is especially true of non-renewable resources.
• Durability: Any crop production process is from time to time subject to stresses
of various types, such as those due to water or to pests. Sustainable systems are
intrinsically resilient in the face of such stresses.
• Compatibility: Sustainable agriculture should fit in which the human, social
and natural environments where it is located, maintaining and enhancing the
health of these environments.
• Equity: Agriculture should promote a good quality of life among the various
individuals involved in the farming activities and within families. This includes
having consideration for the standard of living, health and education of all
people in the community.
The overview and categories suggested here are meant provide a comprehensive
assessment of agricultural sustainability (Vanloon 2005). Sustainable agriculture
includes economically viable system that reduces use of the off- farm inputs such as
chemical fertilizers and pesticides and relies more on on-farm resources. In order to
be sustainable, agriculture needs to be (i) technologically feasible, (ii) economically
viable, (iii) socially acceptable and (iv) environmentally sound. Moreover, sustainability in agriculture can be achieved broadly through—efficient management of
natural resource base and integrated approaches to crop management. Agricultural
Climate Change and Natural Capital …
265