From farm to the plate : all about food and farming
“What you eat, when you eat & how you eat all makes difference “
Introduction:-
Food is one of the most important parts of our lives, as without Food Human Life can’t exist. Not just Humans but any living creature needs food. The kind of food does vary but all need something or the other to eat. As Food is the chief Source of Energy.
Food is one of the most fundamental needs of life, without which the existence of life is not possible.
In this essay we will discuss the entire process of food making from farm to the plate. We shall discuss various facets of food from farm to plate.
Farming:
Farming can chiefly be divided into two parts. Industrialised or Commercial Farming & Subsistence or Traditional Farming. This division is made based upon the purpose of production.
Industrialised or Commercial Farming:-
The purpose of production in industrialise or commercial farming is to produce in order to sell in the market. The history of industrialized or commercial farming is around 150 years old.
In industrialised farming the purpose of farming is to grow intensively & to sell in the market. Most of the farming which is done today is industrialised farming.
Subsistence or traditional farming
This is the traditional form of agriculture. The farmer grows that much crops & food as much as it is sufficient for him to survive during the whole year and something in access if produced is reserved for next year. The purpose of this farming is not to supply to the market. The purpose of this kind of farming is only to grow as much as it is needed for self survival.
1. Arable Farming
Arable land is needed for farming. It includes growing crops in open fields through traditional methods like plowing, sowing, and harvesting. Wheat, corn, soybeans, and rice are some common crops. It Provides staple food for humans and animals. As we know humans need staple food to eat. It Supports food security and livelihoods, especially in developing countries. North America, Europe, and Asia
2. Livestock Farming (Non vegetarian):
This form of farming includes raising animals for meat, milk, eggs, wool, or leather. This can include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, etc.
It is an important source of protein, providing dairy products, and other animal-derived goods.
It’s done Globally, but with variations. Cattle ranching in North and South America, sheep farming in Australia and New Zealand, dairy farming in Europe and North America.
3. Silvopasture:
New terms have evolved but it is nothing new. Integrating Trees, Animals, and Forage
Silvopasture is an agricultural practice that deliberately combines trees, forage crops are plants eaten by grazing animals, and livestock on the same land. There is nothing so uncommon or unique about it except that a new term is used. It’s essentially creating a multi-layered production system that benefits all components.
It’s needless to say it helps to
Provide Animal Welfare, Trees provide shade and shelter for animals, reducing heat stress and improving their comfort. But obviously it helps soil health, Trees help regulate soil temperature and moisture, while their roots can break up compacted soil and improve drainage. Fallen leaves decompose, adding organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
These systems create a more diverse habitat, attracting beneficial insects and promoting a healthy ecosystem.
it’s important to note that the Trees can store significant amounts of carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate climate change.
It’s also important to note that some silvopasture systems can generate additional income from the sale of timber, nuts, or fruits alongside livestock products.
Silvopasture is practiced in various regions, but it’s particularly well-suited for areas with moderate climate.
4. Horticulture:
Most of us have heard this term, It includes intensive cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. Often uses greenhouses or specialized techniques. It produces
fresh produce, promotes healthy eating, and caters to landscaping needs.
Supports local food systems, increases variety in diets, and beautifies our surroundings. It needs regions with favorable climates. In fact every kind of farming is only possible with suitable climate.
5. Dairy Farming:-
Dairy farming is a part of livestock farming. It is cattle grazing, like cows, buffalo, goats etc for milk. This is mostly done in Asian countries like India for the purpose of milk. In most other countries there is less consumption of milk directly but in such countries it’s done for cheese etc.
6. Organic Farming:
These days we hear a lot about organic products and organic farming. What is organic? Organic is something which is not synthetic. It basically avoids synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and It’s highly popular these days.
7. Agroforestry:
This again seems to be a new term but things are not really new. Forestry as a type of farming. It’s Integrating trees and shrubs into crop and livestock production systems. Provides multiple benefits like shade, wind protection, soil fertility, and additional income from trees.
It facilitates sustainable land management practice that improves productivity and ecosystem services.
One of the major benefits is it combats deforestation, mitigates climate change, and enhances biodiversity. This is very good for the ecosystem.
8. Vertical Farming:
This kind of farming evolved chiefly due to non availability of land.It’s growing crops in vertically stacked layers, often indoors under controlled conditions. Uses hydroponics or aquaponics for efficient water and nutrient management.
Increases food production in urban areas or places with limited land availability. It’s useful & good but not sufficient for large scale production.
Drones
Nowadays new technologies have evolved & it utilizes technology like sensors, drones, and data analysis to optimize resource use and improve crop yields. This can involve variable-rate application of fertilizers, targeted irrigation, and real-time monitoring of crop health.
Increases efficiency, reduces environmental impact, and helps farmers make informed decisions.
However this is mostly in Developed countries, not seen much in developing countries yet.
Changes in Agriculture
Outlook :-
One of the biggest changes that is seen in agriculture today is the change in the outlook towards agriculture. Traditionally farming was looked at as not an occupation. But in the past 150 years there has been lot of change in the outlook towards farming.
Now agriculture is considered as an occupation, there is a professional outlook which has helped agriculture drastically. Now agriculture is much more scientific than ever before.
Purpose:-
One of the major changes that has occurred in agriculture is the purpose of farming. Traditionally the purpose of farming was only to produce as much as it is required for a family to survive throughout a year. In the barter exchange system apart from self consumption the purpose of agriculture was to produce so much so that in the exchange they can get other goods.
Approach:-
The approach has changed the approach towards farming and is now much more positive than ever before. Now the approach is very positive, now farming is considered as a profession as an occupation. There was a time when farming was considered something which is backward and those who were farming were considered as illiterate. This time can be attributed especially to the generation of 1950to 1990. However in the recent past there has been a huge change in the outlook towards farming. Gone are the days when farming was considered as a backward occupation, now farming is looked at with a lot of respect. Gone are the days when farming was considered as an occupation for the illiterate, however now there is a trend that farmers & their children are much more educated than ever before. In fact, now there is a trend that educated people especially in Science or related to agriculture can do farming in a much better way. Especially education related to Agriculture is even taken by those farmers who haven’t studied much, maybe even those who have not even completed their school. For improving agriculture Farming education is provided to farmers who have basic ability to read and write. It’s like vocational training. Obviously there is an option available to enrol into agricultural studies for those who have completed required basic education.
Scientific :-
One of the biggest changes that has occurred in the recent past is the scientification of agriculture. A lot of scientific techniques are evolved and used in agriculture. There has been a huge change in the method of farming, fertilizers , and equipment which are used for agriculture. There has also be in a huge difference in the irrigational facilities. However most of these techniques can be availed only by paying a decent amount of money. So for small farmers to avail these facilities is difficult. However even the small farmers avail these facilities by paying rental money. Government subsidies are provided in most of the countries to farmers to avail the facilities. However still a lot needs to be done in this regard.
Access to Market:-
Now we are living in a global market and one of the major changes that has occurred is the access to the market for the farmers. The access to the overseas market has not occurred only recently but it has occurred around 150 years back. However such was provided chiefly in the British Colonial countries not for the benefit of the farmers but for the benefit of the ruling master. Now after the decolonization there has been access to the market for farmers for their benefit. However the middle man & the agents are benefiting from such a global market instead of the farmers themselves. Yet one thing is certain that now farmers have much wider access to the market compared to the past.
Problem & Challanges for Farmers & Agriculture:-
Urbanization:-
One of the biggest challenges for farming is rapid urbanization. In the past 70 to 80 years there has been rapid urbanization, which has emerged as a threat to agriculture. Because of rapid urbanization the rural areas are slowly and slowly converted into urban and semi urban areas. Because of which the availability of arable land is a major problem. As more and more rural areas are converted into urban and semi urban areas the lands which were once upon used for agriculture are now being converted into the jungle of concrete.
Industrialization:-
There has been rapid industrialisation in almost all parts of the world. Now the problem with the rapid industrialisation is that the industries need a bigger land to operate industries and factories. Now this problem is further connected with urbanization. As more and more urbanization took place the factories which were once upon A Time operating in the urban areas could now no longer operate in the urban areas because of pollution problems. So the factories have to be shifted further in the rural areas. Now the problem is further worsened for agriculture, which was already suffering from rapid urbanization and now also suffers from rapid industrialisation. So it has a double jolt on arable land. Another reason for factories shifting to the rural areas is the cheaper valley of the land. With rapid urbanization the value of land available in the urban areas increases drastically so far the new industries the convenient option is rural area and not the urban area. Secondly due to environment protection laws the factories that were already operating in the urban areas all set to be shifted to the rural areas. Now what it has done is created initially semi urban areas and later on the semi urban areas also developed into urban areas. Now we noted to find further the cheaper land the industries have to shift into the rural areas. So now agriculture has tripled, first from urbanization, secondly from industrialisation, thirdly from semi urbanization and fourthly after semi urbanization also turned urbanization into further reduction of the rural areas. All of this had a terrible impact on the arable land which was available once upon a time for agriculture. Although efforts have been made for urban agriculture etc it cannot ever match the scale of agriculture in vast rural areas.
Synthetic Fertilizers:-
One of the biggest problems that agriculture is facing today is overuse of synthetic fertilizers. The greed of the farmers is also one of the main contributors for over use of the synthetic fertilizers. Every farmer wants to have as much production as possible with farming in a single season. There is nothing wrong with the intention any farmer would want to use his farm for as much possible production as possible. However the greed of the farmers became unbridled and they started using synthetic fertilizers in excess. The over use of the synthetic fertilizers has badly hampered the fertility of the soil. A lot of arable land has unfortunately slowly and slowly become less productive and now producing a lot less than what it would originally have. Farmers need to be trained that over use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides can badly hamper the farming land in the longer run. Use of fertilizers and pesticides should be as minimal as required and the traditional fertilizers should be used as much as possible. Only then the farming could be saved. Otherwise We are reaching a time when the arable land will no longer be available and the day the arable land is no longer available there will be no production of crops. The other problem is the existing arable land is also becoming less and less fertile due to overuse of synthetic fertilizers. The governments across the world need to address this issue on a high priority basis. They need to create training workshops for the farmers and invest largely into agriculture education. Unless & until the Governments across the world pay attention to this this issue will be Worsened day by day.
Non Irrigation Facilities:-
Agriculture still depends heavily on rain. Rain does its part, but because of failures of the government to provide irrigation facilities & to conserve the water many times farmers are faced with the difficulty of water. There are times when due to excessive rain farmers incur loss & there are times when due to shortage of rain farmers incur loss. Nature does it farm by providing the rain sometimes excessive rain in sometimes there is shortage of Rain. The problem is not with nature, the problem is with the failure of the government machinery to conserve the water in times of excessive rain. Water is conserved
Nature of Farming
Unpredictable:-
By nature farming is unpredictable. There is no certainty about the output of farming. Especially the farming which is done without lack of Irrigation Facilities is very unpredictable. Sometimes output might be high, sometimes low. Sometimes all is okay but due to some crop disease or weather changes the output suffers.
Hardwork:-
Farming requires a lot of hard work and it’s not easy to do farming. It also requires a lot of labour work and if the farmer family is not big enough or is not involved in farming then it becomes very difficult for farmers to do farming. The labour needed for farming is not cheap , the labourers involved in farming do take a decent amount of money for their work and thus it becomes difficult for a single person to manage farming. Secondly the nature of farming required a lot of hard work hence a lot of modern day generations people are staying far from it.
Time Consuming:-
Farming is a time consuming process and requires a lot of effort over a period of time. It is not an easy cup of tea for everyone.
Big Investment :-
Farming requires big investment not only from the hard work and time perspective but also a decent amount of money is required to be invested for farming. Now the unpredictable nature of farming makes it more difficult. It is a highly risk driven endeavor and only a courageous and patient person can become a farmer.
Must have Characteristics for Farmers:-
Courage:-
A farmer must have courage. Farming is not an easy job. It requires a lot of courage and a swashbuckling attitude.
Patience:
a farmer must have patience, it’s not a one night job, it requires a lot of patience & effort.
Hardwork:-
An occupation which requires a lot of hard work is farming. As such all occupations require hard work but the amount of hard work and effort which is required for farming is of a very high level.
Passion
For any work passion is a must. Without passion you cannot be successful at anything, and the same rule applies to the farming. Farmer must have lot of passion for farming otherwise it is not an easy job.
Perseverance
A lot of perseverance is required for farming. It’s not an easy job.
Ideal Farming method & Techniques?
As such there is no fixed formula for an ideal Farming method & techniques. Different kinds of farming require different methods.
However I must say the traditional method of Farming using Bullock Carts etc should not be abandoned by farmers. As there are a lot of benefits of farming like that. The Bullock, Cow etc provide important support to farming which is required. It also helps in providing fertilizer.
Over reliance on synthetic fertilizers should be avoided.
How Farming affects Food
The kind of fertilizers & pesticides which are used does affect food. If it’s Organic farming it’s more beneficial. It contains more nutritious value. Hence demand for organic farming & organic products is rising.
Whether Agriculture produce consumed in different forms affect nutritious value?
Yes indeed it certainly does, e.g. Sugarcane has lot of mineral nutrients etc when it’s converted into Jaggery it still retains high amount of nutrition & minerals etc
But when it’s converted into White Sugar it loses all nutrients & becomes empty calories. Which only provides calories & no nutrition value. It is more likely causing weight gain , diabetes & other diseases compared to consuming natural form of Sugar i.e. Sugar Cane Juice or Jaggery.
Similarly, Raw mustard oil holds nutrients of Mustard but when it’s refined it loses nutrients. Same applies to Olive oil & various other food products.
Whether eating time does affect its impact on our body:-
There are different answers to eating at different times & it’s impact on our body, scientifically still research is going on whether it affects or not. But even the scientific community does accept waking up early, eating early breakfast, lunch around 10-11 A.M , Dinner by 6 pm in the evening does help in the digestive process. Different scientist, doctors may have different options but there is a general consensus that eating at the right time, waking up early, eating early does help the digestive process. It’s generally accepted that one must eat dinner 3-4 hours early before going to bed.
Conclusion:-
From farm to plate the whole process is important. We need to understand how the thing on our plate has been produced & whether it’s been further refined or not.
In this essay we discussed the journey from farm to plate , various facets of Farming, Life of Farmers & challenges to Agriculture & possible solutions.
We are facing difficult times for agriculture, rapid urbanization & industrialization has emerged as a measure of threat to arable land. The fertility of soil is another issue, governments across the world need to take this issue seriously. Governments are taking steps but a lot more needs to be done.
We need to understand the whole process from farm to plate & its effect on nutrition value. Waking up early, eating early, sleeping early, exercise etc are all very helpful to the body. Avoiding junk food & sugar gluten does help against obesity & it also helps
By: AMIT LAXMICHAND GALA
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