Why Is India Struggling To Adopt Regenerative Agriculture

 

Today the global agriculture industry faces many challenges, including feeding a growing population, providing livelihood for farmers and protecting the environment from changing weather patterns, weather extremes, and droughts and prolonged rainfall caused by climate change. These factors can have devastating repercussions of soil health and fertility.

Probably there won't be enough fertile soil left for our world to grow food within 50 years; Regenerative agriculture is a way of farming and land management that focuses on restoring and enhancing the health of the soil, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions. It aims to improve soil fertility, increase water retention,  reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides,  sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and promote overall ecological resilience. It is a holistic approach that focuses on the entire ecosystem rather than just the crops.

Regenerative agriculture involves a combination of practices such as cover cropping, crop rotation, minimal tillage or no-till farming, composting, agroforestry, and holistic grazing management. These practices help build organic matter in the soil, improve soil structure, enhance nutrient cycling and it reduces the need for synthetic inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.

How is regenerative agriculture different from conventional farming?,

While conventional agriculture relies heavily on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to maximize yields and profits, Regenerative farming is a holistic farming system that focuses on soil health and aims to improve the land instead of degrading it. It involves a range of practices, including permaculture and organic farming practices such as conservation tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, composting, mobile animal shelters, and pasture cropping to increase food production, farmers’ income, and especially topsoil. The goal of regenerative farming is to create a dynamic and sustainable ecosystem that produces high-quality, nutrient-rich food while also improving the health of the soil and land instead of degrading it and also protect our environment.

Adoption of new farming methods like regenerative agriculture could help the agriculture industry reduce its environmental impact while still increasing productivity. The World Economic Forum estimates that greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture could be 6% lower a year by 2030 if a fifth of farmers adopted “climate-smart” agriculture such as regenerative farming.

These methods include precision farming, automation, vertical urban farming, as well as meat replacements. However, it is important to note that the suitability and success of regenerative agriculture practices can vary depending on factors such as soil type, local climate, available resources and the farmer's knowledge and capacity, appropriate training and access to resources.

Is regenerative farming suitable for Indian weather?

As India has a diverse climate with varying weather patterns across different regions. Regenerative farming practices can be adapted to suit the local climate and soil conditions. In fact, there are several initiatives in India that promote regenerative agriculture practices. For example, IDH and Better Cotton have partnered to promote regenerative farming practices in cotton cultivation. The Indian government has also introduced a scheme called "Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati" to promote natural farming nationwide.

Regenerative farming practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, cover cropping, agroforestation and composting can help improve soil health and increase crop yields. These practices can also help reduce water usage and improve the resilience of crops to extreme weather conditions.

Reduced tillage practices in regenerative farming helps to conserve soil moisture, protect soil structure, and enhance carbon sequestration. In regions with water scarcity or prone to soil erosion, minimal tillage or no-till farming techniques can be particularly beneficial.

In conclusion, regenerative farming is possible in Indian weather conditions. It is an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to agriculture that can help improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Then, why is India lagging behind in adopting regenerative agriculture?

There are several factors that could be contributing to India’s slow adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. One of the main reasons is the lack of awareness and knowledge about these practices among farmers due to which they  hesitate for adopting regenerative agriculture, for example;

Regenerative agriculture is a relatively new concept in India, and there is limited awareness among farmers and policymakers about its potential benefits. Many farmers are still practicing conventional farming methods that they have been using for generations and may not be aware of the potential of regenerative practices; Therefore the lack of awareness and technical knowledge about the benefits and implementation of regenerative practices may hinder its adoption.

Farmers may face challenges in accessing resources such as quality seeds, cover crops, compost, and organic inputs required for regenerative agriculture. Availability and affordability of these resources can vary across different regions, making it difficult for some farmers to adopt regenerative practices.

Farmers may face challenges in finding markets that value and pay a premium for regenerative agriculture products. Establishing market linkages and ensuring fair prices for regenerative products can be crucial for farmers to sustain their efforts and investments.

Adequate institutional support, including extension services, research, and policy frameworks, are essential for promoting and facilitating the adoption of regenerative agriculture. Farmers may face challenges if there is insufficient government support, lack of research-backed guidance, or policies that do not incentivize regenerative practices.

Furthermore, traditional farming practices, social norms, and cultural beliefs may influence farmers' willingness to adopt new practices, including regenerative agriculture. While regenerative agriculture has shown promising results at the individual farm level, scaling up these practices across a larger landscape can be challenging. It requires coordination, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing among farmers, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

The policy and institutional frameworks in India may not adequately support the adoption of regenerative agriculture. Limited government support, unclear regulations, and a lack of incentives for farmers to transition to regenerative practices can discourage widespread adoption.

Additionally, Indian farmers face financial constraints while adopting regenerative agriculture practices, although this is not well documented. According to a study, the most significant financial constraint is the lack of required finance, which is faced by 83.33% of farmers. including high cost of input (77.78%), high cost of production (75.00%), non-availability of subsidy credit in time (58.33%), high rate of interest on borrowings (55.56%), loan disbursement procedure is cumbersome (38.89%) and lack of timely availability of credit (27.78%).

However, there are several initiatives in India that aim to promote regenerative agriculture practices and provide financial support to farmers. For example, the “Promoting Regenerative And No-burn Agriculture (PRANA)” project is a four-year project focused on delivering outcomes such as eliminating burning of one million hectares of cropland, getting at least 250,000 farmers to adopt a no-burn cropping system, preventing at least six million tonnes of CO2e from entering the atmosphere, saving 500 billion litres of water from enhanced soil health and agronomy, and piloting financial instruments that incentivize farmers to adopt no-burn practices. The Indian government has also introduced a scheme called “Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati” to promote natural farming nationwide.

India has a long history of traditional farming practices, which often involve intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These practices have become deeply ingrained in the agricultural system, and it can be challenging to convince farmers to switch to regenerative methods that require a shift in mindset and practices.

As the successful implementation of regenerative agriculture requires technical knowledge and training. Many farmers in India, especially those in remote rural areas, may lack access to resources and information about regenerative practices. The lack of training programs and extension services focused on regenerative agriculture hinders widespread adoption.

However, scaling up regenerative agriculture is difficult, and less than 2% of the cultivable area in India is currently under regenerative agriculture. Even states with critically overexploited levels of water are yet to actively consider any regenerative farming alternatives to their existing modes of farming.

Indeed, addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach, including farmer education and training, research and development, policy support, market development, and investment in rural infrastructure. Collaborative efforts involving government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and farmers' organizations can help overcome these challenges and promote the widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture in India.

Implementing regenerative agriculture practices may require upfront investment and changes in farm management, which can pose financial challenges for farmers, especially those with limited resources. Transitioning to regenerative agriculture may involve initial costs for infrastructure, equipment, and training.