In the face of climate change, constraints in natural resources and price fluctuations of commodities and goods in the market, possibly one of the most important lessons for those in the agricultural sector is to diversify.
Agricultural diversification is not a new thing. Farmers typically grow two or three kinds of crops every year, depending on the season. Others are maintaining rice fields while growing livestock for additional income for the household. A few rent out their farming tools and equipment to fellow farmers.
But just how important is it to diversify in agriculture?
Improved household income
In an article from The Guardian, Melinda Fones Sundell of the Swedish International Agriculture Network Initiative pointed out that one of the two most important things in the discussions on food security is diversification. Farmers that diversify in their agricultural activities have higher income than most and with these come better access to resources and basic services.
It means more than bringing additional income from the sale of another crop or the rental fee of a farming equipment though. Diversification also gives farmers that extra cushion of security when the unexpected strikes. Drought or pests can lower the quantity and quality of crops, and price fluctuations in the market can bring down the price of agricultural products. Diversification gives farmers that added layer of security by ensuring them an alternative source of income from the sale of another crop.
Enhanced natural resource management
The changing climate means shifts in temperature and rainfall patterns, the higher likelihood of droughts and flooding in certain areas of the world – all these present both challenges and opportunities for agricultural diversification.
The changes in the environment and biodiversity challenge farmers to adapt and use better agricultural systems and practices that will ensure that they are still able to grow crops and sustain their means of livelihood. At the same time, this challenge presents farmers with a broad range of technologies and techniques to try. In Thailand, for example, farmers are introduced to rice varieties that are more drought-resistant in anticipation of the increased frequency and longer periods of dry spells in some regions of the country. Yet another initiative, this time in Vietnam, is the use of home gardens in upland areas for planting crops when flooding occurs.
Improved food security
On a bigger scale, diversification brings not just environmental and economic benefits to farmers, but also health and nutritional benefits to consumers.
Diversification triggers changes in eating habits and is one of the keys to providing additional nutrition. In an FAO report by Nguyen Van Luat, the diversification of agriculture in Vietnam has resulted to an increase in the consumption of other agricultural products like vegetables, fruits, and seafood, and has subsequently improved the nutrient intake in Vietnamese households.
The Helen Keller International’s Homestead Food Production Program in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal and Cambodia is another example. In a case study by Jennifer Nielsen (et.al) presented in the book, “Diversifying Food and Diets: Using Agricultural Biodiversity to Improve Nutrition and Health in Asia,” the program introduced diversified production system primarily through a home gardening program to selected farming communities. The increased production and consumption of indigenous fruits, vegetables and poultry, have brought in not just additional income for the families; it has also resulted into a decreased incidence of anemia and Vitamin A deficiency among the women and children of the participating households.
Support is a must
Yet, while farmers may welcome the idea of diversifying their crops or farming activities, the other important issue of structural support remains. For yes indeed, how can farmers smoothly transition over to alternative crops and farming activities when inputs are high or there is a lack of knowledge in terms of techniques and technologies?
Research and development efforts on agricultural diversification should continue. Extension work should be beefed up to improve information dissemination and knowledge sharing to farmers. But most importantly, policies that will create an enabling environment for the adoption and use of new techniques and technologies promoting agricultural diversification should be in place.
Click on an icon to view projects.
