Agriculture Pollution

Author(s):  
P. Senthil Kumar ◽  
P. R. Yaashikaa

Vast industrialization and population expansion forced an increase in the utilization of natural resources for human survival. Agriculture is a critical process in which livestock and growth of crops have to be balanced equally. Humans completely depend on agriculture for food and nutrition. Presently, the agricultural sector faces destructive activities due to chemical fertilizers and pesticides which cause environmental pollution. Agricultural pollution signifies biotic and abiotic side effects of cultivating practices that outcome in infection and deterioration of the environment and encompassing biological communities, as well as causing health effects to humans. Eutrophication, loss of biodiversity, contamination of soil, air, and water, depletion of fertility of soil are a few causes of agricultural pollution. Management of these pollutants includes replacement with biological formulations, run-off water treatment, minimizing use of nutrients, and livestock management. Thus, there is a need for securing the agriculture sector for crop productivity and handling country's economy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 753-761
Author(s):  
Sachin Kanta Rautaray ◽  
Rachana Dubey ◽  
Sachidulal Raychaudhuri ◽  
Sanatan Pradhan ◽  
Sheelabhadra Mohanty ◽  
...  

Annually 500 M t organic wastes are produced in India from the agriculture sector. Transportation of bulky organic manures for centralized collection, processing and distribution to farms is cost prohibitive. Hence, recycling of agricultural wastes using vermicompost technology at the farm level is a practical way of managing agriwaste for meeting the plant nutrient requirement. Our experience with a 1.584 ha farm for three years (2015–2016 to 2017–2018) revealed that 8.1 t vermicompost was produced in three batches from 24 t agriwastes produced within the farm area. The system productivity by recycling these farm generated agriwastes and run-off water was 18.05 t (≈11.4 t ha−1) rice equivalent yield which was higher by 2.6 times as compared to rice fallow (4.46 t ha−1). Also, the net return from this system (Indian rupees 70141 ha−1) was higher by 2.3 times, after considering the fixed cost towards construction of a water recycling pond. An increase in carbon stock in soil for the four years study period was 0.66 Mg ha−1 year−1 with the agriwaste recycling system under organic nutrition. For the inorganic fertilizer plot, the increase in carbon stock was 0.53 Mg ha−1 year−1. A decrease in bulk density from 1.56 to 1.46 Mg m−3, increase in water holding capacity from 0.43 to 0.52 cm3 cm−3 and increase in available P and K content in soil from 38.0 and 174.7 kg ha−1 to 45.8 and 186.5 kg ha−1, respectively, were noted. Thus, recycling of agricultural waste at the farm level is useful in improving soil health and crop productivity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-147
Author(s):  
Nawab Khan ◽  
Badar N. Siddiqui ◽  
Nanak Khan ◽  
Farhatullah Khan ◽  
Naqeeb Ullah ◽  
...  

The agricultural sector worldwide is facing many issues relating to crop productivity due to the lack of communication between extension workers and farmers. To reduce this gap, information technology like mobile phones are one of the essential communication devices in numerous fields as well as agriculture. This review aims to analyze mobile phone usage in agricultural modernization and rural development. The advancement of the agricultural sector in rural areas is essential for reducing poverty among growers. As we all know, agricultural activities provide employment opportunities and generate income in rural areas. Poverty can be decreased by advancement in the agriculture sector for better production. Agriculture production, socioeconomic conditions, and food security can be improved by increasing the usage of mobile phones for easy and accurate agricultural knowledge sharing to the farming community.


Author(s):  
Sujata Mulik

Agriculture sector in India is facing rigorous problem to maximize crop productivity. More than 60 percent of the crop still depends on climatic factors like rainfall, temperature, humidity. This paper discusses the use of various Data Mining applications in agriculture sector. Data Mining is used to solve various problems in agriculture sector. It can be used it to solve yield prediction.  The problem of yield prediction is a major problem that remains to be solved based on available data. Data mining techniques are the better choices for this purpose. Different Data Mining techniques are used and evaluated in agriculture for estimating the future year's crop production. In this paper we have focused on predicting crop yield productivity of kharif & Rabi Crops. 


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1283
Author(s):  
Vasileios Ziogas ◽  
Georgia Tanou ◽  
Giasemi Morianou ◽  
Nektarios Kourgialas

Among the various abiotic stresses, drought is the major factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. Citrus has been recognized as a fruit tree crop group of great importance to the global agricultural sector since there are 140 citrus-producing countries worldwide. The majority of citrus-producing areas are subjected to dry and hot summer weather, limited availability of water resources with parallel low-quality irrigation water due to increased salinity regimes. Citrus trees are generally classified as “salt-intolerant” with high water needs, especially during summer. Water scarcity negatively affects plant growth and impairs cell metabolism, affecting the overall tree growth and the quality of produced fruit. Key factors that overall attempt to sustain and withstand the negative effect of salinity and drought stress are the extensive use of rootstocks in citriculture as well as the appropriate agronomical and irrigation practices applied. This review paper emphasizes and summarizes the crucial role of the above factors in the sustainability of citriculture.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Rachida Khaled ◽  
Lamine Hammas

The diffusion of the technological innovation can affect the agricultural sector in the three-sided (social, economic and environmental), a hand, it can contribute to solve problems of the agricultural sector: the effects of the climatic changes, the farming exodus and the migration and the problems of poverty and it can improve the agricultural productivity. But on the other hand, he can lead to new problems, such as depletion of energy resources caused by excessive use of energizing technologies, pollution of air and water and the destruction of soil by industrial waste. This paper aims to theoretically and empirically analyze the role of technological innovation in improving agricultural sustainability through the impact of mechanization on agricultural productivity, energy production and net income per capita for a panel of three Maghreb countries (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) during the period 1997-2012. By using simultaneous equations, the authors' finding that technological innovation cannot achieve the purpose of sustainable development in the agriculture sector in the Maghreb countries through the negative impact of mechanization and research and development on agricultural productivity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Promise Zvavahera ◽  
Farai Chigora

Zimbabwe has faced persistent droughts from around year 1990 to date posing a structural food security challenge to the populace. Recently, the government of Zimbabwe introduced a blue print to spearhead and map sustainable balance in tapping value from the available natural and man-made resources in the country. This is known as the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation Programme (Zim Asset). Amongst its prospects, agriculture and nutrition has been reckoned as a sustainable cluster for economic development. This study was undertaken one and half years after the implementation of Zim Asset as an evaluation mechanism on the successes and challenges faced in transforming the Zimbabwean economy with specific reference to the Food and Nutrition Cluster. The study employed both post positivism and interpretivism philosophies applying quantitative and qualitative approaches in gathering research data. The research instruments included documentary evidence, face to face in-depth interviews and focus groups. The in-depth interviews explored issues to do with resources allocation in line with the Zim Asset agriculture sustenance objectives. Focus was therefore, on the four Ministries supporting the Food and Nutrition Cluster. Eighty percent of the respondents reported that the economic blue print has not made any significant strides in improving the country’s agricultural performance and food security since the inception of Zim Asset in October 2013. It was noted that the country continued to import maize from Zambia and other countries in the region. The major reason for its lack of success was due to the unavailability of resources to support the programme and the fact that land was allocated to unproductive and cell phone farmers. There was consensus that land audit and recapitalisation of the agriculture sector were critical in achieving the desired outcomes. The study recommends that the programme be adequately funded, so that the country can become self-sufficient.


2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morteza Haghiri ◽  
Mohammad Karimkoshteh

AbstractProviding sufficient water for various uses, in particular the agriculture sector, is one of the important problems that Iran faces. Following instructions of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Iran started considering its waterreform strategies to avoid water crises. No unique solutions can be drawn from other nations' experience since water crisis is a country-specific problem. Water-reform strategies are important, particularly when the multioriented purpose of sustainability in Iran's agricultural sector is of interest as well. The pros and cons of water-reform strategies are discussed in this paper.


Author(s):  
P Chennakrishnan ◽  
D Thenmozhi

Agriculture remains the dominant supporter of the Indian populace. The thriving industry and service sectors depend on the agricultural sector for their development. The inter-linkage among the three sectors could not be undermined at any cost. It is the massive absorbent of the labor force even though the disguised unemployment exists in varied magnitude. The share of agriculture to the GDP has come down from 57.7% in 1950-51 to 32.2% in 1990-91 at the time of liberalization, 24.6% in 2000-2001, 15.7% in 2009-2010 then 17%. In the post-independence era, stagnant production, low productivity, traditional technology, and poor rural infrastructure were the major challenges for the Government. India is principally an agricultural country. The agriculture sector estimates 18.0% of the GDP and employs 52% of the total workforce. There is a continuous steady decay in its presence towards the GDP, and the agriculture sector is losing its shine and anchor position in the Indian economy. The problems with which the Indian agricultural scenario is charged in present times are many. Still, this in no way undermines the interest of the sector and the role it can play in the holistic and inclusive growth of the country. Agriculture is fundamental for the sustenance of an economy, as is food for a human being.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 134-139
Author(s):  
Inyang Etim Bassey ◽  
Effiong Eke Nta ◽  
Ekwutosi Offiong

The agriculture sector, the backbone of an economy, provides the basic ingredients to mankind and raw material for industrialization. It plays a strategic role in the process of economic development and growth. Leading industrialized countries of today were once predominantly agricultural economies and still dominate in agriculture. The agricultural sector contributes a major proportion of the national income and caters to a large workforce segment. However, one of the biggest security challenges in Nigeria lately is the expanding clashes between farmers and herders. Today, the conflict has spread over several regions in Nigeria and the Middle-Belt-Region specifically. It is against this foundation that this research is carried out to inspect how conflicts between farmers and herders influence food production, food accessibility, food stability, and food usage in the Middle Belt. The study is based on selected secondary sources and findings from the field research conducted in the Middle Belt region such as Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Nasarawa, etc. The qualitative research techniques involved in-depth interviews with local people and direct observation. This study observes that the food insecurity in this region is driven by the constant clash between the farmers and herdsmen, which have inflicted fear of going to cultivate their farmland in the lives of these rural farmers, consequently leading to shortages in food production in the region.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 110-114
Author(s):  
Hussein Abdi Ali ◽  
Salah Abdirahaman Farah

The Agriculture sector in Kenya is as important as the country. Much of the agricultural function was transferred to the devolved units when the new constitution was passed by Kenyans and promulgated. The question many are asking is, have county governments initiated strategies in place to improve food security and ultimately contribute to the economy. Agriculture is the major contributor of our economy today. Kenya needs to be a self-sufficient country and feed its people. County governments have a huge role in ensuring this objective achieved. Based on this, a research title is proposed “Understanding the influence and effects of devolution on agricultural development: A case study of Garissa county, Kenya” The research seeks to clarify to the public and the other stakeholders concerned if actually devolved units have done anything to improve the agricultural sector since its inception. Have county governments put clear, achievable and practical strategies for this sector to grow and how best can counties improve this important sector. The research findings will be very helpful to those who are involve in the agricultural sector, directly or indirectly. The research objectives are; to compare performance of agriculture before and after devolution, to evaluate the achievements of devolution in the agricultural sector, to analyse the challenges faced by county governments in developing this sector, to examine the perception of the public on the best strategies to improve agriculture in Kenya and to give synthesised recommendations to all stakeholders. The research was conducted within Garissa County, four out of the six sub counties. A total of 310 respondents were engaged ranging from farmers, the general public and the staff of the county government The research found out that there is a gap in the sector that needs attention. Agricultural production, although remained steadfast over the years, has been in deplorable situation. The research findings is helpful to all stakeholders-both levels of governments, farmers, the public and non-state actors.  The research commends that the County governments should use bottom-up approach strategy when making critical decision affecting the department. This will aid them obtain raw and unbiased information for action. The department of agriculture experts should be deployed to all sub counties (at the grassroots). 95 percent of these staff stay at county headquarters doing nothing. Their presence at the villages, farms will come in handy or the farmers. People with experience and experts should be employed to spearhead this exercise. Routine visits should be made to the farming areas.


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