Nairobi/Rome, Jun 3 (UNI) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday praised efforts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Governments towards ecological restoration.
In a joint report #GenerationRestoration: Ecosystem restoration for People, Nature and Climate, the two bodies have highlighted the need to restore ecosystems urgently to prevent it from large-scale collapse and biodiversity loss. They have also applauded Zero-Budget Natural farming initiative of Andhra Pradesh and restoration of Chilka lake in Odisha, and many such efforts as positive examples in this direction.
"Despite improving food production, India’s ‘Green Revolution’ had unintended consequences, including an increase in soil degradation, run-off and water consumption. To address the issue of unsustainable agriculture, Andhra Pradesh state is promoting the use of Zero-Budget Natural Farming. The approach is an alternative to high-cost chemical inputs-based agriculture, based on the latest scientific research in ecology and rooted in Indian tradition," the report said.
The programme aims to reach all farmers in the state and achieve 100 per cent chemical-free agriculture by 2024, using low or no-cost locally sourced inputs, including cow dung and cow urine, it added.
Referring to a recent study UN bodies said that this approach boosted farmers’ incomes; increased carbon sequestration, biodiversity and soil fertility; reduced pesticide use, water used for irrigation and electricity consumption; and improved crop resilience by over 40 per cent. The practice involves waaphasa (soil aeration), which was found to reduce water use in paddy farming, saving 1,400 to 3,500 cubic metres of water per acre per paddy cropping period and reducing farmers’ reliance on groundwater reserves for irrigation and its associated electricity consumption.
The reports highlights how restoration of Chilika Lake, a large brackish water coastal lagoon, resulted in an increase in the population of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins from 89 to 158 between 2003 and 2015. "There was an increase in habitat use, improved breeding, dispersal and a decline in mortality rate of the dolphins. An expansion of the seagrass meadows from 20 sq km in 2000 to 80 sq km was also recorded, helping the species’ recovery," it said.
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