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Sustainable
Agriculture: Concepts, Definitions, Myths and Adoption by Farmers
Safdar
Muhammad and Surendra P. Singh
Cooperative
Agricultural Research Program
Seminar Series
Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
May 5,
1999
Introduction. Conventional agriculture,
characterized by intensive use of chemical and purchased inputs, is
under heavy criticism because of its adverse effects on the environment,
and food safety concerns. The problems associated with conventional
farming raise the importance of finding alternative systems such as
Sustainable Agriculture System (SAS). The main goal of SAS is to remain
productive, profitable and environmentally sound over time. The
sustainability of agriculture has become an important public issue in
the last two decades. However, SAS is defined various ways resulting in
too many definitions that can lead, in turn, to confusion. There is
general agreement that sustainability has something to do with careful
consideration of preserving environmental quality and natural resources.
Beyond that, the definition of sustainability differs significantly. The
adoption of SAS is slow among farmers despite its positive effects on
the environment, natural resources and rural communities.
Objectives. 1) Identify factors influencing
and explore the farmer's perception of problems related to the adoption
of SAS. 2) To identify those attributes, perceptions, beliefs, and the
financial, technical and sociological considerations that assist in
shaping the farmer's decision to implement SAS. 3) To evaluate the
potential impacts of selected sustainable agriculture systems on rural
community development. 4) To discuss policy implications of SAS,
recommend strategies to encourage their adoption, and suggest ways to
disseminate information about such systems.
Methodology. A survey to determine farmers'
attitudes and farming practices pertaining to sustainable agriculture
was conducted in 10 counties of Missouri and Tennessee during 1996,
resulting in 222 usable questionnaires. The characteristics of
sustainable and conventional farmers were compared using appropriate
statistical methods. Probit analysis was used to determine the impact of
socioeconomic factors, attitude and beliefs on farmers' perception
toward SAS.
Results. The study of data confirms the
hypothesis that sustainable agriculture is as much or more a matter of
the farmer's attitudes or ways of thinking than it is a matter of simply
changing farming practices. In fact, one could argue that farming
practices are quite likely "consequences of farmers' ways of
thinking." A majority of farmers who are on small family farms in
the two states may be willing to identify themselves with sustainable
agriculture. In the minds of these people, sustainable agriculture is
very much a quality of life or social issue, particularly a community
issue, as well as an environmental of economic issue. The community
impact study seems to indicate that sustainable agriculture could be a
very important community development strategy, at least in those
communities where agriculture still plays a major role in the local
economy.
Impact. The recent demographic trend showing
emigration of people from the cities back to rural areas may hold the
key to the future of rural America. Economists tend to discount the
significance of this trend in that most urban-to-rural emigrants do not
operate large-scale, conventional farming operations. However, it takes
people and income rather than production and profits to support rural
economic and social development. Sustainable agriculture holds new
promise both for the new rural emigrant and the forgotten majority:
Tennessee and Missouri small farm families.
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