Toil in the Soil

One of the very great challenges to the mankind is that there is hunger and malnutrition deaths reported every day. This is the threat to humanity and it may become extinct very soon. The threat can be overcome, controlled, and contained if proper precautionary steps are taken. The reasons may be many. The main reason is that man has overpowered Nature and destroyed it. The result is Climate Change, Global Warming, lack of rains, water scarcity, shortage of food and spiraling food prices.
We require another Green Revolution or Sustainable Agriculture to feed the Hungry World. It does not cause any damage to the Ecosystem and it replenishes the soil by recycling the crop waste. In addition to this soil fertility can be enriched by growing legume by Nitrogen fixing bacteria, Rhizobia.
Sustainable Agriculture can also be practiced in small houses, small and medium sized buildings, multistoried and mega structures. These types of growing plants require less water, fewer nutrients, and will keep the community, or family healthy protecting sustainable way of living. Composting individual household bio waste with Earthworm will provide excellent nutrient to our Organic Garden which is Sustained Agriculture.
The Organic Crops use no herbicide or weedicide or pesticide. It increases the rich Bio diversity of our Ecosystem. Weed population will be very less in number
Organic Gardening improves the bird population because they depend on farmland for feeding, nesting, migration phases. Natural Diversity of organic Garden provides better habitats to Birds.
Flowers produced in an organic garden are colorful and bright has pleasant scent and sweet nectar. So Butterfly population increases. Many insects like Bees, Beetles and Spiders will have higher population and diversity. The existing fragile food web can be strengthened as fruits of this system are sweet.
Organic Garden will have higher level of bacteria in the soil as Green manures are being used. So a greater number of the Earthworm species are found in its soil. They break down the animal waste and plant waste into productive soil nutrients providing healthier, humus rich soil system.
Number of squirrels and Bats will increase because of sufficient food sources. So there is no extinction or endangerment to plants and animal species.
In an Organic Garden watering the crops can be done by Drip irrigation method. That is by filling the earthenware with water and burying it in the soil near the roots of the plants. This technique of water management will economize water consumption.
Farmers will reap the benefits and their standard of life will improve. Quality food can be produced at a minimum expenditure. So food related health problems will subside.
In Mumbai, BMC is planning for terrace garden in co-op-society buildings and going to distribute saplings. It is a welcoming decision. Before implementing the decision training in planting, preparation of seed bed, application of manures, preparation of vermicompost should be provided to a few in selected areas and then the decision should be implemented in those areas only. Then other areas can follow in the subsequent season. Otherwise there will be huge loss of money. Terrace garden will prevent Global warming and climate change.