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Line 1: − + − Agricultural activities were designed to ensure ecological sustainability and Indian farmers over ages developed holistic scientific knowledge to ensure that goal. A number of classical texts related to agricultural science are available namely, Kautilya's Arthashastra, Patanjali's Mahabhasya, Krishi-Parashara, Varahmihira's Brhat Samhita, and Surapala's Vrikshayurveda are some of the manuscripts that contain valuable information about different aspects such as agricultural implements, selection of seeds, land preparation, pest control, storage, plant nutrients, grafting, soil selection, plant propagation, diseases and plant protection, mixed cropping, crop rotation, intercropping, shifting cultivation, terrace farming etc. India's traditional agriculture has proved to be sustainable by maintaining the country's fertility and biodiversity over centuries.+ − + − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Krshi Vijnana (कृषिविज्ञानम्) (view source)
Revision as of 21:43, 4 April 2020
, 21:43, 4 April 2020adding content
Krshi Vijnana (Samskrit: कृषिविज्ञानम्) refers to the science of agriculture. Agriculture, farming and domestication of animals is one of the most ancient occupations of man. Agriculture came to be practiced when man gave up his nomadic habits and settled down in a place which had favorable climate and topography. Initially depending on wild roots, fruits, and seeds for his sustenance, man eventually adopted the practice of tilling the land to grow crops. Although when the ancient man starting farming practices is not completely ascertainable, evidence of agricultural practices in ancient Bharat are available from the worlds oldest texts, the Vedas.
Krshi Vijnana (Samskrit: कृषिविज्ञानम्) refers to the science of agriculture. Agriculture, farming and domestication of animals is one of the most ancient occupations of man. Agriculture came to be practiced when man gave up his nomadic habits and settled down in a place which had favorable climate and topography. Initially depending on wild roots, fruits, and seeds for his sustenance, man eventually adopted the practice of tilling the land to grow crops. Although when the ancient man starting farming practices is not completely ascertainable, evidence of agricultural practices in ancient Bharat are available from the worlds oldest texts, the Vedas. Agriculture is the foundation of human civilization.
It has been documented that early inhabitants of Bharatakhanda took to farming as their chief occupation supported by the archaeological evidence found in Indus Valley excavations. Discovery of charred rice grains, presence of wheat in the excavations present oldest records of developed agricultural practices.<ref>Ray, P and Sen, S. N. (First Edition 1937) ''The Cultural Heritage of India, Volume 6.'' Calcutta: The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture. (Page 176)</ref>
It has been documented that early inhabitants of Bharatakhanda took to farming as their chief occupation supported by the archaeological evidence found in Indus Valley excavations. Discovery of charred rice grains, presence of wheat in the excavations present oldest records of developed agricultural practices.<ref>Ray, P and Sen, S. N. (First Edition 1937) ''The Cultural Heritage of India, Volume 6.'' Calcutta: The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture. (Page 176)</ref>
== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
Food is the basic requirement of every living being on earth and our ancient texts have proclaimed that even devatas relay on food, which is offered sacredly in the form of havis. <blockquote>अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसंभवः । यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः ॥ (Bhag. Gita. 3.14)</blockquote>All creatures (life) comes into being from Anna (food), and this food arises with the help of rain. Through yajnas we get rain, thus yajna gives rise to activity or karma.
== Agricultural Practices ==
Agricultural activities were thus designed to ensure food supply from rains as well as to maintain ecological sustainability; farmers over ages developed holistic scientific knowledge to ensure that goal.
A few areas of traditional knowledge including prediction of rainfall, farming systems, tillage, mixed cropping, crop rotation, crop protection, terrace farming, agricultural implements are discussed in the subsequent sections.
A few perspectives about why ancient Bharat's people have given highest importance to agriculture is presented below
* India has 52% of cultivable land as compared to the world average. (unfortunately it is decreasing)
* Sunshine hours is quite high as compared to world average
* India has all the 15 major climatic regions
* Endowed with 10 Biodiversity regions
* Abundance of many species of flora and fauna
* Large livestock population
* Large number of rivers and water bodies
Apart from the above ecological perspectives, one may note that agriculture has great impact on the economy and growth of the country.
Over due course of time due to the human interventions of mostly abuse and misuse of the modern science and technology, all the above factors are rapidly depleting. In modern times overcrowding and population increase has lead to encroachment into the natural habitats, taking over of fertile agricultural lands for human habitation and economic activities along with insensitivity to ecological balance has led to disastrous climatic changes in a very short period of time.
== Modern Agriculture ==
In contrast to the traditional agricultural practices, modern systems of agriculture use genetically engineered and/or hybrid seeds of single crop variety, technologically driven implements and equipments such as tractors, shredders, spreaders etc, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and water to produce large amounts of single crop. A few characteristics of modern agriculture include the following
* It has higher levels of input and output per unit of agricultural area
* It has higher use of inputs such as capital, labor, fertilizers, pesticides, plant growth regulators, and mechanization for higher crop yields per unit land area. Many gadgets and implements are needed and higher electricity and fuel costs are involved.
* Indiscriminate usage of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and other such chemicals destroy the ecological balance hurting the other agronomy dependent creatures such as bees, birds, snakes, and frogs.
* It involves mostly single crop cultivation which is not always advantageous ecologically and economically.
* Storage of grains (air-conditioned godowns, preservatives etc) also involve high costs, increasing the price of food production further.
* It demands detailed analysis of growing conditions including weather, soil, water, weeds and pests. Thus it is becoming more of an industry requiring modern technical understanding which was hiterto not the case in the age old tradition.
* It relies on innovation in agricultural machinery and farming methods, genetic technology, techniques for achieving economies of scale logistics. What was originally in-line with natural processes now involves industrial scale technical education.
* It involves large data collection and analysis technology.
Ramifications of such models of agriculture such as widespread pollution of air, water and food are visible on the entire ecosystem. As much as modern outlook with technology and education is required, it has be used minimally with caution. A dire need for research on traditional agricultural practices to find out the ethos behind it and adopt it in the modern times has become the need of the hour.
A number of classical texts related to agricultural science are available namely, Kautilya's Arthashastra, Patanjali's Mahabhasya, Krishi-Parashara, Varahmihira's Brhat Samhita, and Surapala's Vrikshayurveda are some of the manuscripts that contain valuable information about different aspects such as agricultural implements, selection of seeds, land preparation, pest control, storage, plant nutrients, grafting, soil selection, plant propagation, diseases and plant protection, mixed cropping, crop rotation, intercropping, shifting cultivation, terrace farming etc. India's traditional agriculture has proved to be sustainable by maintaining the country's fertility and biodiversity over centuries.
== Agricultural Processes ==
A few areas where traditional knowledge of farming is available includes prediction of rainfall, farming systems, tillage, mixed cropping, crop rotation, crop protection, terrace farming, agricultural implements. Broadly the processes which are performed by a farmer include the following eight steps from crop selection to harvesting.
# Crop selection
# Land preparation
# Seed selection
# Seed sowing
# Irrigation
# Crop growth
# Fertilizing
# Harvesting
=== Prediction of Rainfall ===
=== Prediction of Rainfall ===