Trees and vegetation benefits. Trees improve human health in a number of ways, just as they assist entire ecosystems by stabilizing soils, offering abundant habitat for wildlife, absorbing and filtering stormwater, lowering temperatures, and more. It is impossible to overestimate the benefits of living close to trees, from the medical trees that human societies have used for hundreds of years to provide life-saving medicine to the urban trees that protect city people from dangerously high temperatures.

TREES AND VEGETATION BENEFITS

You could say that trees are ingrained in our basic identity because it is evident from historical documents that early humans depended on them for survival. We find protection as they absorb dangerous pollutants, healing in their medicinal ingredients, shelter in their limbs, and sustenance in their nutrient-rich fruits.

1. Air pollution is eliminated by trees

An estimated 711,000 metric tons of air pollutants are eliminated annually by urban trees in the contiguous United States. This is significant because a variety of human health conditions, such as bronchitic symptoms, an increased risk of glaucoma, heart attacks, altered vascular function, autism, high blood pressure, problems with children’s cognitive development, heart failure, and an increased mortality rate, are linked to air pollution in the form of particulate matter (such as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).

2. Trees Encourage a Robust Economy

A robust local economy increases access to essential, life-saving resources like fresh, nutritious food and quality healthcare and services, even though it may seem paradoxical to mention the economy among the health benefits of trees. Trees only increase in value as they become older, raising property values as they do, but infrastructure deteriorates over time. Stronger neighborhoods and more active communities that feel safe and inspire people to come outside are the results of higher property prices!

3. Diminish the Impact of the Urban Heat Island

One of the biggest risks to human health in a warming environment is the rise in heat and heat-related illnesses. In cities, where heat waves and the Urban Heat Island effect combine to produce hazardous temperature surges, this is particularly common. Planting strategically placed urban trees can help urban residents feel less hot. Trees significantly affect temperature, contributing an average of 1.9°C of cooling to cities, according to a study of 94 urban areas worldwide. Indeed, they have the ability to lower temperatures by as much as 9°C, which is significant in regions where temperatures frequently surpass 100°F.

4. Assist Us in Recovering from Illness

Hospital patients who have a view of trees can recuperate more quickly since it lowers tension and diastolic blood pressure. Actually, studies have shown that spending just three to five minutes in nature can induce calm and assist lower feelings of discomfort, anxiety, and rage. Our immune system can be weakened by excessive stress, which is known to have a significant impact on our general health and ability to heal. Not surprisingly, then, spending time in nature—or even just gazing at it—can shorten the time it takes for patients to recover.

5. Boost Our Heart Health

People who live in neighborhoods with trees report feeling better and experiencing fewer cardio-metabolic disorders than people who live in less green places. The stress-relieving qualities of trees and the fact that frequent exposure to them tends to promote more frequent outdoor physical exercise are some of the reasons behind this. All of which support the health and strength of our hearts.

Summary

Throughout our lives, trees have been a part of our surroundings. They serve as the backdrop for a treasured memory and that pleasant green patch that our eyes seek out when we look out our windows. Despite being motionless and silent, trees have a lot of power, including the ability to improve and improve the health of everyone.

MERITS AND DEMERITS OF ORGANIC FARMING

Merits and demerits of organic farming. The future of sustainable agriculture lies in organic farming, which maintains soil health while producing food free of chemicals. The demand for organic products is growing in India, where the market is predicted to expand at a rate of 20% per year. However, is organic farming always advantageous? Like any other approach, organic farming has benefits and drawbacks that farmers need to take into account.

MERITS AND DEMERITS OF ORGANIC FARMING

Supported by government statistics, farmer success stories, and research data, we will examine the true advantages, difficulties, and profitability of organic farming in India in this comprehensive book. This site will assist you in making an informed choice on organic farming, regardless of your background as a farmer, student, or business owner.

Merits

1. Sustainability of the Environment

By eschewing synthetic chemicals, organic farming maintains soil health, lowers pollution, and fosters biodiversity.

2. Offer medical supplies

Organic farming helps us produce chemical-free goods that are good for our environment and the health of people and animals. Organic farming produces safer food items by doing away with artificial fertilizers and pesticides. According to studies, eating organic food lowers pesticide residues and increases antioxidant levels, which benefits consumers’ health.

3. Financial Gains

Due to premium pricing, producers can increase their income as consumer demand for organic products rises. Organic farming’s economic viability is further enhanced by export prospects in foreign markets.

4. Enhanced Fertility of Soils

Compost, green manure, and biofertilizers improve soil health by boosting microbial activity and organic matter. ICAR claims that organic farming increases biodiversity, improves water retention, and lessens soil deterioration.

5. Encourages Biodiversification

Beneficial insects and other living microbes are drawn to a healthy environment. Numerous plant, insect, and animal species have more habitats and biodiversity because to organic farming.

6. Government Certification and Assistance Programs

Through programs like the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, the Indian government encourages organic farming. These programs offer farmers marketing support, training, and financial aid.

7. Better Pest Management

Using Natural Techniques Crop rotation, the use of beneficial insects, and organic pesticides are all encouraged by organic farming. According to an ICAR study, integrated pest management, or IPM, can cut pest damage in organic systems by 30–40%. 10. Higher Income Compared to Other Farming There are fruits, vegetables, and other items on the market that are made with chemicals, but they cost less than those that aren’t. In the market, food grown organically yields twice as much profit as non-organic food.

Demerits

1. Reduced Production

As soil fertility steadily improves, organic farming may offer lower yields in the initial years. It might be challenging for farmers to maintain profitability at first because they frequently have to wait three years for full certification.

2. Expensive startup costs

A substantial upfront investment in organic seeds, certification, and equipment is necessary for organic farming. According to ICAR, small-scale farmers may find organic certification to be financially burdensome, as it might cost between ₹25,000 and ₹40,000.

3. Extensive Work

MERITS AND DEMERITS OF ORGANIC FARMING

Because organic farming involves physical weeding, crop rotation, and composting, it frequently involves extra labor. Production costs may rise as a result, particularly in rural areas where labor is already scarce.

Summary

In the future, organic farming will continue to play a significant role in supporting sustainable food systems. More acceptance and backing for organic farming and its scientific foundation are required to meet the goals of the European Green Deal.

Importance of commercial farming. Producing crops and raising livestock with the goal of selling them in the market and making money is known as commercial farming. Sugarcane, bananas, cotton, wheat, tea, maize, coffee, cashews, rubber, and other commercial-grade crops are its main products. It focuses on the large scale cultivation of crops and is often referred to as agribusiness.

IMPORTANCE OF COMMERCIAL FARMING

By satisfying the demands of the domestic and global markets, it aids capitalists or the owners of agricultural businesses in making money. Increased food output, financial gains, and better infrastructure are just a few benefits of commercial farming. Additionally, it helps the domestic and global markets, raises farmer incomes, and may even increase export earnings.

1. Encourages Development in Local Infrastructure

Roads, electricity, and other infrastructure are established or improved by commercial farming in a region or nation. Electricity is essential to commercial farming.

2. Creation of Jobs For local resident

commercial farming provides employment opportunities. The employees are able to support their families by earning money. The local economy grows as a result of commercial farming.

3. Lowering the Price of Products

Because there are enough crops on the market, commercial farming helps to lower the price of agricultural items. As a result, supply and demand work together to drive down the cost of these goods.

4. Enhanced Food Security and  Production

Commercial farming allows farms to produce more by mechanizing processes to control diseases and pests. As a result, commercial farmers increased their output, contributing to the growth of the nation’s food supply.

5. Supplying with Raw Materials

More raw resources are available from commercial agriculture to support domestic and foreign businesses that manufacture or produce agricultural byproducts. Commercial production of fruits like oranges, pineapples, and mangoes makes it possible to manufacture juices. The confectionery industry also benefits from the production of coffee and cocoa.

6. Reducing the Cost of Production

Commercial farmers’ operations grow more affordable over time when they use more efficient production techniques, such as harvesters, plows, planters, and harrowers.

7. Make Useful Foreign Exchange

Commercial farming contributes to a nation’s high foreign exchange earnings. West African nations have benefited from the profitable foreign exchange earned from the export of coffee and cocoa, which stimulates economic growth.

Disadvantages

Since the ideal places to cultivate are those covered by rainforests, commercial farming is destroying natural rainforests to expand the extent of productive land. Deforestation has a detrimental effect on the ecosystem when forests are cleared for crop cultivation. Every available piece of land is becoming farmland as a result of the ongoing growth in commercial farming and the increasing number of farmers choosing the career. You don’t have more area available for cultivation because of the tremendous traction in farmlands. Farmers must work on degraded soil. The production rate may be threatened by this.

Due to the significantly increased land prices for commercial farming, young farmers are unable to buy land and start their own operations. In order to defend crops from insect infestations, commercial farming encourages the use of fertilizers, herbicides, and other chemicals. But in turn, these substances pose a serious risk to humanity.

Summary

Because it functions so differently from smaller, local farms, commercial farming has long piqued our interest. Positively, it contributes to the production of the vast amounts of food required to support a population that is expanding. However, efficiency frequently takes precedence over sustainability, which can result in problems like soil erosion and excessive pesticide use that can have a greater negative influence on the environment.