Description
Agriculture today stands at a crossroads. While it continues to be the backbone of rural livelihoods and food security in many countries, especially India, it is simultaneously facing multiple and complex challenges. Issues such as climate change, soil degradation, declining water availability, market uncertainties, land fragmentation, and loss of biodiversity are placing unprecedented pressure on farmers and farming systems. In this context, the concept of sustainable agriculture has gained critical relevance—not only as a means to conserve natural resources but also as a strategy to protect and enhance rural livelihoods.This book, “Farming, Livelihood and Sustainable Agriculture,” has been conceived to provide an integrated and holistic understanding of how farming can be both productive and sustainable, and how it can serve as a viable means of livelihood in the face of current and future challenges. It aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice by combining scientific principles with real-world insights drawn from the experiences of farmers, practitioners, and researchers. By doing so, the book hopes to encourage a transition towards more inclusive, resilient, and ecologically sound agricultural practices.The content of the book is grounded in the understanding that agriculture is not merely a means of food production, but a dynamic livelihood system embedded within socio-economic and ecological contexts. Therefore, the book goes beyond the agronomic dimension and explores the broader issues related to income diversification, rural employment, integrated farming systems, organic and low-input agriculture, institutional support mechanisms, and policy frameworks that influence farming decisions. It presents sustainable agriculture not as a fixed set of technologies, but as a flexible, context-specific, and knowledge-intensive process.A unique feature of this book is its emphasis on integrating sustainability with livelihood security. Rather than viewing environmental conservation and economic well-being as conflicting goals, the book explores how they can be mutually reinforcing. It discusses various models, innovations, and community-led approaches that have successfully demonstrated how sustainability can be embedded into local agricultural systems. The role of farmer knowledge, indigenous practices, women’s participation, and grassroots institutions are also given due attention.This book is intended for a wide readership: undergraduate and postgraduate students of agricultural sciences and rural development, researchers, policymakers, extension personnel, development professionals, and progressive farmers. It is our hope that the book will serve as a valuable resource in both academic and practical settings, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexity of sustainable agriculture and the importance of aligning it with livelihood enhancement.We express our gratitude to all the farmers, scholars, and institutions whose work and experiences have informed the insights presented in this book. We also thank our colleagues and students whose questions and feedback have helped shape the structure and content of the chapters. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and relevance, we acknowledge that agriculture is a constantly evolving field. We therefore welcome suggestions and constructive feedback from readers for future improvements and editions of this book.
