Q.6 Discuss the Harmful Effects of Conventional Farming. परम्परागत खेती के हानिकारक प्रभावों पर चर्चा कीजिए।
Ans: Conventional farming— It is a method of growing plants such as fruits and vegetables using chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Harmful Effects of Conventional Farming
- Use of synthetic chemical fertilisers lowers the quality of soil over a period of time.
- Chemical pesticide contaminations in water and food affect the environment and our health. The insects which are harmful to crops become more resistant to the environment due to prolonged pesticide use.
- The continuous use of chemical fertilisers reduces soil fertility as it lowers the content of organic matter (humus) in the soil. Due to low level of organic matter, soil loses the ability to hold small soil particles together and thus can be easily lost by erosion.
- Heavy irrigation results in soil erosion and intensive tillage results in reduction of soil flora and fauna which are important for ecological interdependence.
- Growing a single crop in the field in conventional farming causes problems for nutrient recycling of the soil and thus, reduces diversity of plants and animals.
- Under conventional farming biodiversity is affected. It lowers the number and activity of earthworms and microbes. The number of pollinators also decreases and results in low production.
| Source : NCERT : Class 7th : Chapter 2: Page number-21/22 |
| Keywords: Soil Degradation , Water Pollution , Biodiversity Loss , Chemical Residues , Climate Impact |
| Extra Info : Sir Albert Howard gave the concept of organic farming in 1940. He is also known as the ‘Father of Modern Organic AgricultureSikkim, the Fully Organic State of India |