Question

Suggest some alternatives that can be used to revive the agricultural sector in Kerala

Answer 1

Instructions:

• Explain the challenges faced by agriculture
• Explain the alternatives

Solution:
Challenges faced by the agricultural sector in Kerala

• Climate change:Nowadays the climate in Kerala is changing drastically. This affects our agricultural sector, when our cultivators expect rain and grow crops the climate change results in a delay of rain and affects agricultural productivity.​
• Hike in price of seeds and fertilizers: The hike in the price of the seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. Our farmers or cultivators are not able to afford these costly products. As a result, the farmers were forced to switch to other sectors of employment.​
• Unscientific agricultural practice: Poor agricultural practices cause a decrease in the nutritious value of the soil. Unscientific agricultural practices on hills cause soil erosion causing flooding, water pollution, and agricultural waste. ​
• Land transformed into settlements: regions where these crops were once widely cultivated gradually got transformed into settlements. This led to a significant reduction in agricultural land.​
• Change in lifestyle: As new employment arenas developed, the new generation's affinity toward agriculture declined. As these sectors offered better returns, agriculture got neglected. We slowly shifted from agriculture which generally demands more physical exertion.

Our agricultural sector is clearly having a hard time. There are some alternatives that can be introduced that can revive the agricultural sector of Kerala.
Alternatives:

• Hydroponics

In hydroponics, the required nutrients are dissolved in water and given to the plants. Husk, gravel, etc. can be given for the spread of roots.

• Vertical net farming

Vertical net farming is helpful for people with very little space available. In this method, low-cost nets are vertically tied to poles or bamboo. As the pulses and bitter gourd grow vertically, space won't be a problem.

• Greenhouse farming

In severely cold regions, crops are grown in glass-roofed rooms in order to protect them. This method is known as greenhouse farming.

• Precision farming

This is the method of giving adequate care (water, manure, etc.) for each crop and soil type precisely at different stages. Any region having ample sunlight and well-drained soil is suitable for precision farming.

• Fertigation

It is the method of giving water and manure drop by drop. As the chemical fertilizers used are completely soluble in water, the plants can fast absorb them.