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Importance of Agrobiodiversity and Regenerative Agriculture
Context:
Agricultural biodiversity plays a crucial role in ensuring food and nutritional security, particularly in regions like India and Africa, home to nearly 3 billion people, or approximately 40 percent of the world’s population.
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- Smallholder farmers, who cultivate less than two hectares of land and produce around 35 percent of the world’s food, are central to maintaining biodiversity and ensuring sustainable food systems.
Role of Agrobiodiversity in Food Security
- Lower Yields: A lack of agricultural biodiversity in farming systems increases vulnerability to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses, leading to lower yields and reduced access to nutritious foods.
- Resource Depletion: Monoculture farming depletes soil health, weakens ecosystem resilience, and exacerbates food insecurity.
- In India, approximately 224.3 million people suffer from undernourishment, while across Africa, the number stands at 278 million.
- This highlights the urgent need to prioritise agricultural biodiversity to enhance food production, resilience, and sustainability.
- Agrobiodiversity: Agrobiodiversity encompasses the vast range of plants, animals, and microorganisms utilised in agriculture and food production.
- Traditional crops, such as millets, sorghum, and pulses, are often more nutritious and resilient to harsh climatic conditions.
- Promoting these diverse crops can improve dietary diversity, enhance soil fertility, and ensure better health outcomes, particularly in rural communities.
How Regenerative Agriculture Supports Small Farmers
- Regenerative agriculture is a farming approach that enhances soil health, increases biodiversity, and sequesters atmospheric carbon dioxide while improving water and energy management.
- Farms practicing regenerative agriculture experience higher and more stable yields, reduced input costs, and increased environmental sustainability.
- Several studies highlight the effectiveness of regenerative farming:
- Andhra Pradesh: In Andhra Pradesh, India, zero-budget natural farming led to a 10–20 percent increase in yields while reducing input costs.
- Eastern Rwanda: In Eastern Rwanda, diversified cropping systems maintained yields 20–40 percent higher than monocultures during droughts.
- Zambia: In Zambia, rotating maize with legumes improved food security and total farm yield.
- Rajasthan: In Rajasthan, rainwater harvesting combined with regenerative practices boosted crop yields by 15–30 percent in water-scarce regions.
- Ethiopia: In Ethiopia, biodiversity-rich farming systems have enhanced resilience to drought while reducing malnutrition rates.
Challenges to Scaling Agro-Food Systems
- Policy Barriers: Agricultural policies often favor monoculture farming, limiting support for regenerative methods.
- Financial Constraints: Smallholder farmers struggle with limited access to financial resources and technical knowledge necessary for transitioning to regenerative farming.
- Market Challenges: Globalisation has restricted economic incentives for diverse and regenerative produce, making it difficult for small farmers to sustain livelihoods.
- Initial Productivity Loss: Farmers often experience a temporary reduction in yields when transitioning from synthetic inputs to natural farming methods.
- Food Waste: Inefficiencies in the supply chain lead to 20–25 percent food losses, increasing food costs and limiting access to nutrition.
Pathways for Change and Policy Recommendations
- Supporting Small-Scale Farmers: Providing access to diverse seeds, agro-ecological farming techniques, and financial resources.
- Strengthening Supply Chains: Engaging agricultural corporations to invest in regenerative and carbon-neutral supply chains.
- Promoting Awareness: Educating farmers on the long-term benefits of regenerative practices and integrating nutrition education into agricultural programs.
- Developing Market Incentives: Encouraging demand for sustainable and regenerative produce to create economic opportunities for farmers.
Success Stories in Regenerative Agriculture
- Tanzania: In Tanzania, agrobiodiversity-focused interventions improved food security for 22,500 smallholder coffee producers.
- Madhya Pradesh: In Madhya Pradesh, India, regenerative farming practices enhanced farm incomes and improved access to affordable, nutritious food.
By fostering collaboration between policymakers, agricultural stakeholders, and local communities, we can enhance agricultural biodiversity, promote sustainable farming practices, and secure nutrition for future generations.
