Concerns about development in Agriculture, related technology and environmental issues
Organic Cultivation.
There are many discussions about role of Organics in agriculture and organic cultivation of crops. There is no doubt that in any cultivation practice in soil, the organic content of soil will have to be maintained, by adequate replenishments, to sustain high agricultural productivity. However it may not be wise to overemphasize, role of organics and go to the extreme of condemning everything else. It is necessary to examine this and related issues with an open and scientific mind. I would like to express my views and concerns on this subject,and other related issues, including the environmental impacts of some issues.This is based on my personal involvement,of more than 3 decades of Agricultural practice all over India.
What is organic? Common understanding is that anything natural or from nature, is considered organic. In technical terms any compound which has a carbon atom in it’s molecule, is classified as organic. It is generally believed that anything natural is good for us. There is a vocal group, who advice that we should use only natural products and reject or avoid anything synthetic or man made. Stretching this argument to the extreme, one should live like the bush or cave man, without clothes and any tools, other than sticks or clubs. One should live on leaves, fruits, nuts, roots, tubers, fish or meat, only to the extent of natural replenishment. Is this possible or practical at the current level of population or civilization? Are we willing to give up modern comforts of electricity, transportation, communications, entertainments, education, medical care and most other small and significant modern conveniences? The truth is that, there are many who preach such ideas with public appeal, but very few are willing to evaluate rationally, what it implies and to what extent it can be put to practice. It is to a great extent like saying that nature cure or traditional Ayurveda, is adequate to treat even Cancer and therefore do not practice modern medicines or medical practice. There is no argument about the need for living in harmony with nature or protecting the environment. We should not deplete natural resources by excessive use and use more of renewable resources.
Let us look at the human history of development or civilisation. Man invented tools to get food or to hunt the animals more easily,, for obtaining the food he needed. The forests were cut to cultivate crops of choice, to provide better food through all seasons, rather than eat whatever, as and when it was available. Tree barks were first used and crops grown later to make more comfortable clothes. Trees were cut to cook food and later to make paper to write. Fossil fuels like coal was used and dams built to produce electricity to energize many of today’s` production facilities, transportation and comforts. In all this process, the environment was changed, from what it was before and this has been going on from the beginning of human history. Most places that we live today in Kerala, were thick tropical forests less than 500 years ago. It is an undisputable fact, that we could not live in places we live, as we live today, without having altered the environment around us. Human development is a continuous process and it’s impact on the environment that we live in, cannot be avoided, but could be controlled to a certain extent. Population growth in poor and developing countries, put much pressure on environment; therefore can be controlled only to a much lesser extent.
Therefore, what is the solution? All solutions are naturally compromises, of many kinds and degrees. Progress, development, changes and compromises are inevitable part of human life. Evolution is a natural process, which has been taking place from the time of creation and will continue, in spite of the self appointed psedo environmentalists. Many species will become extinct and many others will evolve, capable of surviving in spite of environmental changes. The human intervention, will make neglible impact on this process. Considerable knowledge or at least correct information and perspective, on all related issues are necessary, before one can make a balanced and good compromise or choice. Man today has acquired much knowledge and skills in most areas of science, which has much impact on the way humans and the society at large, live. All humans desire more and more comforts, better health, better education, more information, faster transportation and communications. All this is possible only with use of energy of some kind. The technologies for development of energy from renewable resources have limitations and are inadequate to cope with the growing demand. Hydroelectric generation, the only major contributor in this area, is objected to, on the basis of it’s impact, on the environment. The thermal units use large quantities of non-renewable fossil fuels and pollute the air. Atomic energy is objected to, on the basis of potential danger. Energy from wind, solar, waves and other natural forces are far too inadequate and cost much, to make any significant contribution in the near future. Science and technology may be able to come up with solutions in the next 30 years, for example by splitting water molecule, to produce energy. Until then, what do we do? In my view, we do not have any other choice, other than making compromises on Hydroelectric, Atomic and Thermal energy, in this order of preference, at least for another 30 years. Those who oppose them should be adequately informed, to see the greater benefits,to make them realistic and practical, in their approach, to this specific issue of our energy needs.
Coming back to the organics:- Is everything organic good? Everything organic is not necessarily good. It is well known that there are many plants, seeds and animal derivatives, which are highly poisonous, to humans, animals and living organisms. There is a significant quantity of arsenic in certain varieties of cultivated tapioca, which is used for human and animal consumption. There are plants, a single seed of which, for example odollum (the toxin in odollum can stop a heart within 3 hours and cause death to a human or animal if ingested. There are many plants and sea creatures, like jellyfish, which can cause serious allergy to humans, on mere contact. The snake venom is organic. Another point to remember is that many modern allopathic medicines, are derived from plant alkaloids. They are released after extensive scientific trials, for specific illness. The same molecules of the alkaloids, are today synthesized, in a production plant, at much cheaper cost and without destroying large quantity of plants. They have no impurities and are more effective. Today many enzymes and medicines, like insulin, are mass-produced, at much cheaper costs, without the use of plants or animals, by genetically engineered organisms. One example is Insugen- recombinant human insulin, produced in Bangalore. These are no doubt very valuable contribution to the society, yet there are many who are not willing to take a well-informed balanced view, but oppose modern scientific developments, like genetic engineering and use of synthesized products. These groups of vocal people, are asking everyone to go back to nature and only use organic products, without realizing what the real implications are. Even a well informed person like Prince Charles, made a public statement, that he will not use genetically modified products, without realizing that the butter or the cheese that he is eating at breakfast, is genetically modified.
Let us look at the new biotechnology, genetic engineering and cloning from a layman’s point of view and examine, if it is making contributions to the society. Genetic engineering is the manipulation of genes on the chromosomes of cells, which control all the qualities of human, animal, plants and all organisms. All organisms live by very complicated, minute and continuous chemical process and electrical impulses within their cells. Sometimes these get altered in nature itself, due to solar radiation and such other natural factors and cause mutations. Such mutation or changes in the genes, alter many characteristics or quality of the organism. One can bring about mutations by controlled radiation, such other external stimulation and induce desired qualities. Scientists today can do this much faster and more accurately,by physical manipulation of genes. Modern equipments, techniques and knowledge, like gene sequencing, makes it possible to do this very precisely, to make desired changes in an organism. Genes of bacteria are thus changed to mass-produce insulin faster and more economically. Gene therapy is used to treat diseases by correcting defective genes, like in cancer or killing invading virus like HIV. This involves making nano (very very small) particles and loading them, to deliver desired chemicals, to a specific target or location. A potato plant producing also tomato fruit, is not too far away a scientific reality.
Another related biotechnology, which is misconceived by even many well-informed people, is Cloning and stem cell research. Any major scientific breakthrough could be misused by a few and no doubt this should be carefully controlled by legislation. The potential use of such technologies to serve the human race, in it’s fight against diseases, prevent or cure congenital defects, improve the quality and quantity of biological products, are enormous. Such research should get due importance and adequate encouragement. Blanket banning or restricting cloning or stem cell technology, are not the right answer and is unlikely to be effective for long,and will retard scientific progress benifiting humanity. Agriculture is an area, which has maximum beneficial impact from such modern scientific developments. This is also an area where a lot of people are lead to many misconceptions.
There are many who advocate going back to old traditional varieties and methods of cultivation. Use of organic manures is important to maintaing soil fertility and microbial activity of soil. Pure organic culture is a growing trend in developed countries, but one should understand that they have surplus food production, very small static or reducing population to feed, larger disposable income. Therefore they have a reasonable percentage of people, willing to pay a much higher price, for such produce. Organic products are a western fad, which we are now trying to ape, and is also a myth. All plants absorb their nutrients in soluble forms only.. Organic products will cost more, due to it`s transporting cost due tothew bulk,lower productivity and higher unit cost of nutrient inputs. Can we afford this luxury in India, with a very large and growing population to feed, much less disposable income? How many of our housewives or consumers will be willing to pay, a higher price for such products? My judgment is that this would be small,in the near future. Higher unit cost of production, in a competitive market, can not be sustained, beyond a limited volume. Therefore if such products are produced in larger quantities, it will have to find markets mainly abroad. It will not be easy to get much volume of sales from exports and therefore have much limitations. This reminds me of the Vanilla story, which failed for want of demand.
For countries like India and China, with a large and growing population, the obvious choice is to increase productivity and reduce unit cost of production. This is possible only with better new Hibrid or high yielding varieties of crops and modern cultivation methods. Judicious and correct use of fertilizers and pesticides, is absolutely essential,for commercial agricultural production. In India, improper and even wrong use of fertilizer and pesticides, do take place, which no doubt has to be prevented and corrected. Proper selection and judicial use of fertilizer or pesticide will not have any significant adverse impact,on the environment. All pesticides are poisons and have to be handled and used carefully and properly. Most of the new generation pesticides, are biodegradable and are very target specific, but are more expensive, compared to the widespecturm, stable compounds, used earlier. Some of this older generation pesticides are still in use in our country, for it’s cheapness and quick action, preferred by a section of our poorly informed farmers. The answer is to educate and give proper advice to the farmers,on the right choice and correct use of crop verities, fertilizers and pesticides. This is unfortunately a very weak area in our country and should be corrected urgently. We should treat the cause and not the symptoms. It is a very massive and difficult task, to which the Agricultural planners have to give very serious thought. From my personal experience for many decades in the use of fertilizers and pesticides in this country, I am amazed to find that very few government agricultural officers,at any level, including professors at most of the Agricultural universities, do not have adequate knowledge in this vital area, more particularly of correct choice and use of pesticides. Most farmers go by improper or sometimes wrong advice of the dealers,who sell these products. I would blame the pesticide Industry, for their failure to provide specialists, to brief and teach all technical aspects, first to the professors at agricultural universities, the government agricultural ded[artments,their field officers and dealers, who sell the products to the farmers. The pharmaceutical companies have specially trained and competent persons, to regularly brief the professors and medical practitioners, around the country, on all technical aspects of their products. This and the vide practice of using prescriptions in medical field; ensure, correct use of medical products to a great extent. Lessons could be learned from this and if this could be put to practice in thre field of agriculture, many serious environmental problems could be avoided.
In my job position, I have interviewed many Agricultural Graduates over two decades, for employment as field officers. I was amazed at the level of poorf technical knowledge on pesticides, of our Agricultural Graduates, from our universities. The knowledge on fertilizers was only marginally better. With such poor knowledge base, on practice of agriculture or links to the industry serving agriculture, how are they going to guide or advice the farmers?!
A few years back I was involved in multi-location field demonstrations, with Highbrid Paddy, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, over a period of three seasons. The results were very impressive, with most cases yielding more than double yeald than the High Yielding Varieties grown in the areas. On an average there were 80 tillers per hill, with much more grains on each tillers, yielding more than 10 tonnes per hectare. Only 5 kgs of seed grain was required, to raise nursery for planting one hectare, at the recommended, wider spacing. The cost per unit of paddy produced, was cheaper by 40 % or more, compared to HY varieties. There were only very few failures, mostly due to poor supervision and inappropriate cultural practices. Yet the farmers did not adopt it, due to many reasons. In Kerala, it was the fear of the farmer about the marketability of white fine-grained rice, locally. In Tamilnadu, it was the initial cost of seed material and the resistance to changing accepted cultural practices. In both states, the government field agricultural officers were not sure of supporting or promoting the new idea. In fact I was surprised that in both states, senior level officers and even most professors at the universities, had very little information on Highbrid Paddy at that time. The private company that wanted to introduce the variety of hHighbrid Paddy, decided to concentrate on states like Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, where the farmers` and officials` response were far better. I understand that China has adopted to cultivation of Highbrid Paddy verities in a big way, substantially increasing, their paddy production and reducing the unit cost. If this is true, the day is not too far away, when the Chinese will flood Indian markets, with cheaper paddy, pushing the Indian farmer to a tight corner. This is exactly what is happening locally in Kerala today, Tamil Nadu capturing the market for rice, vegetables and fruits, with better productivity and cheaper costs. The local farmers and politicians protest, without any consideration to the larger number of consumers, who get products at cheaper prices. Hybrid Paddy is a product of genetic manipulation, the Kerala scientist are way behind in such technolegies..
I would like to mention one more case to support my arguments. Recently there was a press report of a massive programme to spray Coconuts in Kerala with Neem oil based pesticides. Azadachtirin molecule, when isolated from Neem oil,is effective as an insecticide. It is now synthesized cheaply. Incidentally many blindly believe, in the insecticidal abilities of Neemoil based products, without knowing that Neem trees have many insect pests. (Neem trees had to be saved from an epidemic pest attack, by use of modern pesticides in Coimbatore district). Azadachtrin, has limited insecticidal activity, in it`s pure form. The Neem oil is an antifeedant and a repellant, to some insect pests and is not better than `fish oil rosin soap emulsion` or `tobacco decoction` in use before the advent of new pesticides. The coconut mites known as Mandari disease in Kerala, is of epidemic proportion. I am not aware of any scientific field trials carried out in Kerala and the results published,about the bioefficacy of Neem oil, against coconut mites. Accaricides. Dicofol, Ethion or Sulphur products, are widely and effectively used, to control mites in different crops. The scientists are expected to make recommendations based on scientific data and not play to the gallery, just because of the appeal of anything organic, particularly for controlling an infestation of epidemic proportion. There were official recommendations for unscientific and impractical solutions like, spraying garlic paste and neem oil (good quality Neem oil to cover even half of the coconut palms of the state is not available) . The spread and extensive damage being caused by Red Palm weevil, Rhinoceros beetle and Bud rot in Coconut, can not be controlled and palms saved from destruction, without proper intervention by use of proper modern pesticides. What about suitable equipments and practical methods of application on Coconuts? This is going to cost massive loss of taxpayer’s money and make a few rich without working. No one makes any protests about such massive waste of tax payer’s money, in this state of Hartals and protests for everything!
Method of Pesticide Application.
On the basis of my personal experience over many decades, improvement and knowledge of proper equipment and methods of application of Pesticides are a major neglected area, of agricultural technology. There is only a single large producer of spraying equipment in India and they have made practically no significant improvement or change to their equipments, in last 40 years. No body teaches appropriate methods of application, to agricultural students or the farmers. Companies who produce pesticides give their recommendations,as a percentage or so many milliliters in so many liters of water per acre, without any reference to the type of nozzle, equipment or method of application. This lack of knowledge, is causing massive economic loss to the country, causing much damage to the environment and needs to be addressed by those who are responsible for agricultural training and development in the country.
Agricutural Technology.
We have proved that as a country that we have very talented and intelligent manpower, in most fields of technology. How is that our agricultural officers and scientists in general, with few exceptions, are not upgrading their knowledge? Obviously they do not have to, once they are securely employed, have no real competition or fear of loss of job and are not held accountable for anything or tp anyone. The scientists are able to get away, with mediocre and often repetitive research papers, of little practical use and have little link to the related industry. The position is somewhat better, in states like Gujarat, Maharastra,Andhra and Punjab, but even there, the credit goes to the progressive farmers, who acquire knowledge on their own and adopt modern practices. If this is not changed, not only agriculture in India, will not make the fast strides made elsewhere in the world, but also sure to cause substantial damage to environment, and seriously hinder our countries` development and progress. Many more farmers will commit suicides, without proper guidance. The Farmers will listen to Field Officers, only if they well informed and can rely on their knowledge and advice.
This is where our Planners and senior Agricultural Scientists should give their serious attention and priority. The root cause of the problems, is improving information and knowledge, on modern and appropriate agricultural technology, from Agricultural Universities to the farmer level. Well-informed Professors at the universities and Agricultural Officers could provide correct guidance and advice to Farmers. They can also give the correct perspective to the general public, to see environmental issues, without bias and with an open mind. These are issues, which we should be concerned with, affecting the future of large population of farmers and agricultural development in our country. It has major impact on our environment and progress as a nation and requires the urgent attention of all top policy makers, in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Planners of our country.
Pollution.
We should realise the natural pollution from Volcanic erruptions, wild fires, Cyclones,floods/mud slides, wild life droppings and decaying organic matter in nature(which produce methane gas), is causing much impact on enviornment, from prehistoric times.We have no effective control over these. The human impact on enviorment is small and can be reversed. Our efforts should be on reducing the enviornmental impact by careful balance of human developmental needs. The burning of Arichutural farm waste, burning of waste on road sides each morning by Municipal workers and the burning of dry leaves and waste by homeowners in their home compounds Kerala every week or more often, the poluting State Transport buses and other trucks, Autos etc are a major threat to peole. The polution Board and such other Agencies, have to much more to do in controlling Polution from these sources, on priority to help the Public.
My intentionsof these notes are only to provoke authorities concerned, to take suitable action to improve matters and clear some mis- apprehensions, in the minds of ordinary people, about emerging new technologies.
K.George John.
Editted 102018
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