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๐ฌ Think about it
Think of farming like cooking with the same pot every day without washing it. Soon the food spoils. Farming the same way for too long tires the soil. A healthy ecosystem keeps soil strong. Let us find out how.
What was the Green Revolution?
- Between 1950 and 1965 India faced a food crisis.
- Tractors, machines, fertilisers and pesticides raised food output.
- This period is known as the Green Revolution.
- But these methods are now seen as unsustainable.
Example:
The Green Revolution filled India's grain stores, much like switching from a hand chakki to a big flour mill.
Why is overusing fertilisers and pesticides harmful?
- It reduces soil fertility and friendly microorganisms.
- Less humus means the soil erodes easily.
- It kills natural predators, so pests increase.
- Some pests even develop resistance to pesticides.
Harm From Overusing Chemicals
Overuse of fertilisers and pesticides
↓
Soil weakens
Fewer microbes and less humus.
↓
Predators die
Natural pest controllers are lost.
↓
More pests and poorer soil
How can farming be made more sustainable?
- Some farmers use organic and natural farming methods.
- These reduce synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
- They disturb natural ecosystems as little as possible.
- So they protect soil, environment and food security.
In this Activity, we will visit or talk to farmers to find out about the farming practices they use.
Materials needed
Notebook, pen, and a prepared list of questions for farmers.
Procedure
1. Visit a nearby farm with parents or teacher, or talk to farmers in your community.
2. Prepare questions about pesticides and other farm inputs they use.
3. Ask if they reuse or recycle materials to improve crops.
4. Sample questions: How have your practices changed over time and why? What effects do you notice with synthetic fertilisers and pesticides? Have you seen changes in soil health?
5. Interact with farmers based on these questions.
6. Based on your findings, prepare a report.
2. Prepare questions about pesticides and other farm inputs they use.
3. Ask if they reuse or recycle materials to improve crops.
4. Sample questions: How have your practices changed over time and why? What effects do you notice with synthetic fertilisers and pesticides? Have you seen changes in soil health?
5. Interact with farmers based on these questions.
6. Based on your findings, prepare a report.
Observation
Farmers share how their practices changed and what effects they saw on crops and soil after using chemicals.
Explanation
Synthetic chemicals improved crop output but their long-term use harms soil and the environment. Understanding ecosystems helps choose sustainable practices.
โ Summary
- Farmers surveyed
- Practices recorded
- Chemical effects noted
- Report prepared
Important Points
- Monoculture means growing the same crop again and again.
- It reduces biodiversity and affects pollinators.
- Organic and natural methods help protect the soil.
๐ฌ Our scientific heritage
- The ancient text Vrikshayurveda focuses on soil health.
- It advocates nourishing soil with organic manure.
- One example is Kunapa Jala, a liquid fertiliser.
- It is made from animal and plant waste by fermentation.
- Fermentation breaks complex substances into simpler ones.
โ Test Yourself
-
What was the Green Revolution?
View Answer
A mid-1900s rise in food output using machines, fertilisers and pesticides. -
What is monoculture?
View Answer
Growing the same crop repeatedly on the same land. -
Why does overusing pesticides harm farms?
View Answer
It weakens soil, kills natural predators and lets pests develop resistance. -
How can farming become sustainable?
View Answer
By using organic and natural farming with fewer synthetic chemicals. -
What is Kunapa Jala?
View Answer
A traditional liquid fertiliser made from fermented animal and plant waste.
Important Definitions
- Green Revolution — the mid-20th-century rise in food output using machines and chemicals.
- Monoculture — growing the same crop repeatedly on the same land.
- Sustainable farming — farming that protects soil and ecosystems for the future.
