A farmer is ploughing his land in Tandojam.
The adoption of regenerative agriculture (RA) is emerging as a relatively new paradigm in the farm sector. RA capitalises on the ecosystem services of farming, and its proponents see it as a set of principles that can promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
These include zero or low tillage to minimise soil disturbance, maintaining soil organic matter (OM), enhancing biodiversity and crop diversification, and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers by switching to farmyard or green manure to promote healthier soil.
In conventional farming, farmers generally achieve higher per-acre yields, often applying more diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser. Insecticides and pesticides are also used to control pests, adding to the burden of input costs. RA helps growers lessen their reliance on such inputs. It does not, however, ban the use of fertiliser, particularly given the need to meet food production requirements of a growing population. Experts and farmers alike, meanwhile, agree that conventional practices have generally degraded soil.
RA is now being discussed globally as part of a broader movement. Organic farming, too, has long been part of the conversation, though the two differ. Organic agriculture involves an entire organic production chain, while RA focuses more specifically on soil structure and health, encouraging farmers to prioritise healthy soil as the basis for improved yields.
