This new year let’s resolve to work and support towards mitigation of global warming and climate change by ensuring environmental sustainability, ecological balance, conservation of natural resources and maintaining the quality of soil, air, and water.
Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihood
Introduction
Punjab is primarily agrarian state with almost 70% population dependent on agriculture or related activities. Punjab the granary of India is famous as food bowl of India. But soil condition has started to deteriorate, yields are declining leading to excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Excessive cost of cultivation is the cause of poor economic conditions of farmers. Apart from agriculture produce Rising temperatures and climate change is a threat to sustain agriculture thereby livelihood of millions of people and food security.
Global warming and climate change: Global pledge to reduce methane emission
Effect of global warming and climate change is now a real threat with India among worst hit by climate change. Now it is well known that the largest greenhouse gas emission is coming from agriculture sector. From farm in put manufacturing such as urea, DAP, potash etc. to logistics, farm operations to harvesting and food distribution this sector consumes major part of the energy. One of the major greenhouse gases are generated from biomass residue either burnt or while producing compost/manure. The composting of biomass produces methane gas which is 20 times more harmful as compared to co2. One the most important step required for mitigating global warming is safe handling of biodegradable biomass and processing this for making CBG and FOM.
Major advantages of this will be reduced greenhouse gases, producing alternate fertilizers locally to reduce chemical fertilizers and green energy will be produced locally required for agriculture sector. There will be huge saving of energy spent on logistics and create employment in remote areas. At COP 26 majority of the countries pledged to reduce methane emissions and Government of India has started GOBARDHAN and PMPRANAM missions for safe handling of biodegradable biomass for processing for producing biogas and Fermented Organic Manure.
PM Programme for Resotration, Awareness Generation, Nutrient and Ameliroation of Mother-Earth (PMPRANAM)
Mother Earth has always provided plentiful sources of substances to mankind. It is the need of the hour to go back to more natural ways of farming and promotion of balanced/sustainable use of chemical fertilizers. Promoting natural/organic farming, alternate fertilizers can help in restoring fertility of our Mother Earth. PMPRANAM was announced in the budget and is being implemented where market development assistance of Rs. 2500 per MT of FOM produced will be given to CBG projects set up under the GOBARDHAN initiative. Such organic fertilizers will be branded as BHARAT. This on one hand will facilitate in addressing the challenges of management of crop residue and parali burning, will also help in keeping the environment clean and safe and at the same time provide additional source of income for farmers. Farmers will get organic fertilizers at affordable price.
Renewable Energy
Other advantage of anaerobic composting is recovery of biogas which can easily be converted to either electric power or vehicle fuel. One ton of paddy straw gives 250 cum of biogas and produces 450 kwh or 110 kg of cng.
Development of economy will increase demand for energy. The pressure to supply energy to India’s growing population is increasing. Out of the total cost of energy distribution of source of energy such as coal and fossil fuels is logistic cost involved. Logistically local source of energy is most environment friendly and cost friendly. Power or CNG will be in demand in the future as we shift from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric vehicles. Household energy requirement for cooking and heating will increase many folds soon. Now to meet this energy requirement of power and energy renewable energy will play particularly important role in coming days. Biogas from biomass is one such technology that will be most efficient and cost effective.
Initiatives to implement the program
Government of India has notified Green Credits program which will be operational soon. This is an initiative to create mass movement to be responsible towards environment. Every individual needs to take the responsibility to prevent contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and also support heling those who adopt green life style. Farmers adopting green farming can be the most important step that will help to mitigate global warming and climate change. The steps for green farming are:
- Tree plantations wherever possible.
- Water management- to promote water conservation and efficient use of water.
- Sustainable agriculture- to undertake judicious use of nutrient through organic and inorganic sources and maintaining soil health and nutritional food.
- Waste management- Managing agriculture waste through circular management of nutrients.
- Air pollution reduction- not burning stubble and reducing methane emission by using fermented organic manure.
The food so grown to marked as eco-friendly and nutritious. The food grown with balanced nutrition by using a mix of chemical fertilizers and fermented organic manure will be more nutritious with no chemical residue.
Taking the first step
You can help by taking the first step. Majority of the farmers are small and marginal with land holding of less than 2 hectors. Even after the support under PMPRANAM program they are afraid of spending Rs. 2500 per acre. Now your help by giving preference to buy eco-friendly food at par with organically grown food will encourage farmers to adopt green farming. You can also help towards mitigation of global warming by using fermented organic manure in your home gardens as this will prevent greenhouse gas emission. This support from you will go a long way to mitigate climate change.
Environment and Social benefits
This technology of making fermented organic manure is environment friendly, commercially viable and socially responsible. This process has zero effluent and can generate employment in remote areas. With increase of 1% soil organic carbon 100000 tons of carbon dioxide will be reduced per acre. It also helps in sustainable agriculture and livelihood. We will also provide employment in rural areas to double the farmers income.
Author: Mr. Sanjeev Nagpal, Managing Director
Sampurn Agriventures P Ltd.
Email: sanjeev@sampurn.in
