Unsustainable Agricultural Practices due to Inflation: A Recipe for Disaster

 

We experience in our daily lives through newspapers or everyday shopping that inflation is on the rise, leading to a significant increase in the prices of goods. As a result, people are struggling to manage their finances, and everyone is trying to earn more money to fulfill their needs. Unfortunately, this pursuit of money has led some individuals to engage in unethical farming practices that are causing harm to the environment and endangering the future of farming. One of the groups that are particularly affected by these practices is farmers.

Farmers are already facing the brunt of inflation as the high cost of farming inputs is making it difficult for them to make a profit. To address this problem, some farmers have resorted to unethical farming practices, such as using excessive amounts of pesticides and fertilizers, which are not only damaging the environment but also making the soil infertile. According to a United Nations report, the world loses 24 billion tons of fertile soil every year due to such practices. The report warns that if this trend continues, 95% of the Earth's land could be degraded by 2050.

This issue is particularly serious for small-scale and extremely poor farmers. The use of pesticides and fertilizers can have a long-term impact on their health, and the resulting damage to the soil makes it difficult for them to grow crops and support their families. Therefore, it is essential to find sustainable solutions to address the issue of rising inflation and unethical farming practices. It is crucial to strike a balance between making a profit and preserving the environment for future generations. Governments and other stakeholders must work together to create policies that support sustainable farming practices in affordable prices that do not harm the environment.

In March 2023, a study conducted by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) in India found that banned pesticides were being used on a significant portion of the country's fruits and vegetables. The study tested over 700 samples from 14 states and found that over 70% of the samples contained residues of banned pesticides. These pesticides are harmful to human health and the environment and are banned in India due to their toxicity. This has led to a call for stricter enforcement of regulations on these pesticides, as well as greater awareness among farmers and consumers. Currently, only 20.6% of land in India is covered by forests, while experts recommend that at least 33% of land be kept under forest cover for environmental balance. The rising cost of living is seen as one of the reasons behind this issue. Additionally, there is competition to earn money, which leads people to take risks that harm the environment. One of the main causes of this competition is the increasing economic inequality in India.

Since 1990, we can see from many government decisions that the Indian economy is moving towards capitalism at a fast pace.  It is high time for countries like India to rethink their reliance on only capitalism and should consider alternative economic models that promote sustainability. We as a society must consider the impact of our actions on the environment and our future generations rather than just relying on wish fulfillment and economic growth. A balance must be maintained between economic growth and environmental sustainability, rather than always looking at the more economic side of things, governments and policymakers need to take decisive action to promote sustainable agricultural practices. Like, curbing rising inflation, promoting organic farming at affordable prices. Otherwise, rising inflation and unethical agricultural practices resulting from it will undoubtedly bring disaster to us all. It is time for society, government and policy makers to consider the impact of their actions on the environment and future generations. All stakeholders must work together to ensure that we leave a healthy, happy and fertile planet for future generations.

-          Krushna Dabholkar

 

References:

0101)   United Nations. (2017). The global soil crisis. Retrieved from https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/global-soil-crisis

0202)   Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2021). Unsustainable agricultural practices: Causes and solutions. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/cb1201en/cb1201en.pdf

0303)   National Academy of Sciences. (2019). Negative emissions technologies and reliable sequestration: A research agenda. Retrieved from https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25259/negative-emissions-technologies-and-reliable-sequestration-a-research-agenda

0404)   International Food Policy Research Institute. (2018). Agriculture, climate change, and the environment: A complex nexus. Retrieved from https://www.ifpri.org/publication/agriculture-climate-change-and-environment-complex-nexus

0505)   Center for Science and Environment. (2023). Pesticides in fruits and vegetables: A study of 14 states. Retrieved from https://www.cseindia.org/pesticides-in-fruits-and-vegetables-a-study-of-14-states-11147