Agrotechnology

Sustainability in agriculture resources for global food security

International Conference on Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences

September 14-15, 2012 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India

Sachin Bandagale

Posters: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

The global food security is in question today with ever increasing food prices resulting from adverse climatic effects on ag - ricultural production, rise in oil prices, increasing use of grains for biofuels, and almost a 50 per cent reduction in public spending on agricultural sector over the last three decades. The environmental sustainability has also become more elusive due to rapid industrial and population growth, urbanization, and with the lack of public realization about the sheer effects of environ - mental pollution. Asiatic countries and their economy largely depend upon agriculture. With the technological breakthrough, significant level of food grain production has been achieved and large stocks of foodgrains have been piled up to meet exigencies. Importantly, this large stock of foodgrains is being infested with insects and pests that have increased the cost of storage, besides deterioration in the quality of foodgrains. Secondly, the use of foodgrains for manufacturing of bio fuel to meet the energy need of industrial and transportation sector has resulted in diversion of main crop like corn, maize and beans. With this the question of food security of the increasing population has emerged. In future, the problems of dwindling food security and environmental sustainability will aggravate because the total food production remained constant over the last two decades with growing environ - mental and socio-economic challenges. Use of bio fuel may encourage a war between food and fuel. Production of bio fuel may lead to decrease in land available for food production creating scarcity of food. Under the global village, food is becoming the scare and prospectus of agribusiness increases gradually. India is a global agricul - tural powerhouse..Agri-business are fast realising the importance of providing quality products and value-adding in the sector by providing modern technology, knowledge and financial assistance to the farmers. Further, post liberalisation, the sector has witnessed opening of new vistas for the development of the rural economy, and thereby, strengthening the domestic market as well. The need of the hour is to combine entrepreneurial expertise with Government initiatives to help the agri-business sector grow rapidly. Sustainable food security means enough food for everyone at present plus the ability to provide enough in future as well. To cope with such situations, agricultural package of practices and policies should adopt efficient measures for increasing pro - duction without degrading environment. Efficient handling, storage, and processing technologies are also needed to reduce post- harvest losses of farm produce and increase value addition to processed products. Research and development activities can play a pivotal role in attaining these goals. There is a greater need for our farmers to have an easy access to modern and eco-friendly technologies and quality agricultural inputs to ensure food security and environmental sustainability.Under such conditions, it is imperative for the scholars to ponder over the issue and provide solution to meet the needs of rising population and sustainability of a decent life. The aim of this compilation is to build a roadmap for achieving food security and environmental sustainability.

Biography :

Student at Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Co-operative Management Pune. He had done graduation in agriculture from Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth Rahuri.