Biodiversity is the realm of all things living – plants, animals, micro-organisms and their interactions with each other. It includes ecosystem, species and genetic diversity. It’s crucial because eventually it provides us with all things we need – right from the food we eat to the shelters we need. Biodiversity is in fact the pool for medicines, clean air, clothing fibers, biofuels and countless other things that elevate our quality of life. Their importance is such that in absence of biodiversity, no life can be imagined. It’s important for the sustenance of our planet and us as well. It also helps to fight environmental risks like pollution, climate change and natural disasters. Its presence has an impact on every aspect of life on our planet, even on agriculture.
Agriculture has its own sets of challenges and lows but presence of a rich biodiversity can really help the industry to grow better. For instance, if there’s rich biodiversity in a specific region, the soil there will be more healthy and rich in nutrients. This will eventually lead to better crops for human consumption as they’ll be equally rich in those nutrients as well. And not just soil quality, the health of biodiversity also helps with pollinators. It provides a varied species of pollinators like bees and butterflies which eventually aid in pollination of corn, wheat and soybeans, thereby propagating the growth of these crops. In their absence, food won’t grow, and we won’t have anything to eat.
Since it’s an eco-system that’s so vital, knowing more about it can help us in so many other ways as well. It’s crucial for farmers to know more about it. Indian Potash Limited’s Dr. P. S. Gahlaut says, “Knowledge is power. The more you know, the better decisions you can make with respect to your land. Biodiversity is a gift by nature and as people in the industry, we must keep unwrapping this present to discover more it has to offer. And use all of that to enhance the agriculture sector.”
For instance, when farmers are very well informed about the interaction of species, they can understand how to manage pests and other crop diseases. While pesticides exist, knowing what works for a particular crop under certain situations, and what doesn’t can help them in a longer run. When they focus on the type of pests and identify its natural enemies, they can combat the pest issues without even using the pesticides. It’s the biodiversity which keeps a lot of pests in check to avoid the destruction of crops. To say, biodiversity is like a natural, harmless pesticide for crops.
Another way in which knowing biodiversity at a deeper level can help farmers is just the understanding of crops – when, how and how often do the crops need to be rotated? Which are more suitable conditions for a certain crop? Once biodiversity is studied, optimal and smart use of agricultural practices can follow.
Therefore, nurturing biodiversity is one of the most powerful ways to improve agricultural yields, and therefore, our quality of life as well. Dr. Parvinder Singh Gahlaut, the visionary behind IPL, believes, “Nothing on this planet exists in isolation. Everything is interconnected. And same goes for our quality of life, agriculture and biodiversity. They all are so interlinked. Investing in a rich biodiversity can improve agriculture which can improve the quality of our lives as well. Which is why it’s important to nurture biodiversity and treat it as important as any other agricultural practice.”
Biodiversity can be made richer through a plethora of ways. For instance, introduction of cover crops in the fields can significantly improve the health of the soil. Through nitrogen fixation, these crops protect and make the soil health a lot better, and also present soil erosion. These crops can also fix nitrogen from the air into organic compounds which can act as fertilizer for plants. Thereby, reducing the need for artificial fertilizers. Reduction in tillage is yet another effective way to improve biodiversity because it doesn’t alter the soil structure much, doesn’t compromise on organic matter, prevents erosion amidst many of its other benefits. Farmers also practice crop rotation because it helps to fight the challenges around pest resistance. When different plants are grown, it leads to a richer biodiversity as it harbors a wider variety of insects and birds as well. Other ways like rotational grazing, hedges and buffer strips, land conversation etc. can make biodiversity better and richer, leading to better agricultural outputs.
To say, biodiversity is just a single word. But the more we know about it, the more we realize how it shapes our existence. Its presence has enriched our lives and also enhanced agriculture. Therefore, to enrich biodiversity in various areas can successfully help us to make our planet and our lives healthier. Biodiversity is, after all, nature’s way of saying that magic exists.
