In the present age, Climate change is a pressing global concern with widespread effects on the environment: glaciers and ice sheets are melting, biodiversity is vanishing, geography is shifting, and plants and trees are blooming early.
The World Heart Federation, for the first time, identified the top 50 cities that are good for heart health. Based on social, economic, and environmental benchmarks. The three cities from India, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata ranked 33, 34, and 37, respectively, marking the danger that looms on our people due to surroundings that are not good for health.
In India, heart-related deaths, or CVDs (cardiovascular diseases including diabetes, cancer) contribute to 28.1% of the total mortality rate. For people to be safe from chronic illness and live longer lives, the administration and the general citizenry have to work on sectors that impact heart health.
As the country nears its ambitious Net-Zero Emissions 2070, the agricultural sector will significantly transform into a green industry.
Understanding Agriculture's Carbon Footprint
According to the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), 2023, estimated that agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) accounted for 22 percent of global greenhouse emissions worldwide.
Agriculture and allied activities employ 55% of the Indian workforce, while the sector contributes approximately 11-12 percent of the country’s total Greenhouse Gas emissions. For instance, the emission of methane from rice paddies and livestock, carbon dioxide from land use, and nitrous oxide from fertilizers.
Agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to deforestation, livestock farming, and the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. These emissions contribute to global warming, which in turn has adverse effects on human health, such as:
Deforestation refers to the conscious clearing or trimming of trees in the forest. When cleared, the trees release much of the carbon stored in the roots back into the atmosphere, leading to Climate change.
The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) estimated that approximately 420 million hectares of forest land were lost between 1999 and 2020. The value of forests in our ecosystem is inevitable.
With increased population, the demand for agro products is a significant driver of deforestation, i.e., huge tracts of land and forest clearance for high-value cash crops like palm oil, soya, and poultry.
Livestock farming is a key food choice worldwide, contributing 34% of the protein consumed globally.
Millions of vulnerable population groups depend on livestock for their food and nutrition such as vitamins B12, and A, zinc, iron, calcium, and riboflavin.
Beyond that, Livestock products are responsible for more greenhouse gases than any other agri-business, leading to climate change. Activities such as animal waste, land use for feeding, and production of livestock products (dairy, meat, and eggs) emit a 7.1 Gigatonne scale per year of Carbon dioxide, equivalent to 14.5% of the total global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions .
Fertilizers and pesticides have played a crucial role in providing food security to 8 million people. However, these synthetic inputs have caused more harm than good to the natural ecosystem of this planet.
Over-use of fertilizers is rampant and the runoff from the agricultural fields contaminates water bodies, leading to eutrophication which is a major environmental threat.
Excessive use of synthetic fertilizers can deplete soil nutrients, leading to soil degradation and reduced fertility. Globally, only 35% of the nitrogen fertilizers are used by a plant, and this causes dead ocean zones, air pollution, and bad soil health, exacerbating climate change.
Organic farming: A sustainable strategy
One solution to agriculture-related greenhouse emissions and increased nutrition intake is that organic farming is a sustainable alternative to conventional farming.
Organic production is a method of agriculture that avoids the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. It prioritizes sustainability in food production by creating a balance in nature.
Also read: What is Organic: The Simplest Guide
The organic food industry has grown significantly in the last decades. India has over 1 million organic food producers, standing at the top of production. The country with a rich agricultural heritage, faces the dual challenge of feeding 1.4 billion people while working on the environmental impact of farming.
Over the years, researchers have proven that people relate Organic with ‘Health, Humanity, the Environment, and the choice of a lifestyle that will save the planet for future generations.
Organic food is potentially healthier than conventionally harvested food. Organic varieties of certain foods provide significantly greater levels of vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus than non-organic varieties.
For instance, a study on the increase of organic carbon content in the soil with the use of vermicompost in Madhya Pradesh revealed that the natural compost increased soil’s carbon sequestration potential by 0.5-0.7%
A study in Uttar Pradesh found that intercropping pigeon peas with maize increased the overall productivity by 30-40 percent as well as reduced the need for nitrogen fertilizers by 25 percent.
Sikkim, India’s first fully organic state, has seen significant environmental benefits, including improved soil fertility and reduced water pollution. The transition to organic farming has led to a 10 percent increase in soil organic carbon content, enhancing the soil’s capacity to sequester carbon.
Additionally, organic farms in the state have reported a 30 percent reduction in water usage compared to conventional farms, contributing to both water conservation and reduced energy consumption for irrigation. The success of Sikkim’s organic transition has inspired other states like Uttarakhand and Kerala to follow suit.
India’s journey for sound heart health offers is long and filled with opportunities. By adopting and scaling up these organic farming strategies, India can significantly reduce its agricultural carbon footprint while ensuring food security and improving the life quality of farmers.
Government support through policies, subsidies, and incentives is vital to accelerate the transformation. As the country thrives to meet the carbon emission targets, organic farming practices will play a pivotal role in the future.
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