In India Green Revolution in agriculture has a significant contribution on aggregate supply of food grains, ensuring food security to the growing population, however the momentum gained during the green revolution has slowly declined. Now better agriculture practices are needed to bring sustainability in agriculture.
Better agricultural practices are those which are safe to the environment, human beings and all other living beings on earth and simultaneously increasing agriculture production.
In India better agricultural practices were part of our farming in traditional agriculture.
Need for better agriculture practices arises from the reports of adverse effects of chemical pesticide on human beings from Punjab , Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and other parts of country where excessive use in some pockets have led to incidence of cancer and other diseases. Recent example of pesticide toxicity is of Endosulphon in Kerala and Karnataka where Hon'ble Supreme Court has to intervene to stop its sale.
Simultaneously indiscriminate use of fertilizer particularly the nitrogenous has led to substantial pollution of soil, air and water .
Scope for better agriculture practices is vast for adoption and promotion. Organic farming recommends the use of such agricultural practices which are biological in nature and eco friendly. Organic farming relies heavily on Biopesticide and biofertiliser.The current global market for organically raised agricultural products is valued at around 30 billion US $ with a growth rate of 8%. Biopesticide represents only 2.89% (as on 2005) of the overall pesticide market in India and is expected an annual growth rate of about 2.3% in the coming years .In India so far only 12 type of biopesticides have been registered under the Insecticide Act of 1968. Whereas more than 190 synthetics are registered for use in chemical pesticides.
India has 18 millions of Neem tree and if full potential of tree is harnessed than it can meet the total requirement of pesticides in Indian agriculture.
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