PARAMETERS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Sustainable agriculture involves successful management of resources to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality of environment and conserving natural resources. In predominantly agriculture-driven economies, sustainable agriculture could more aptly be defined as the one that over the long-term:

• enhances environmental quality and the resource base on which agriculture depends,
  
• provides for basic human food and fibre needs,
  
• is economically viable, and
  
• enhances the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.
  From these definitions as well as other relevant documents on the subject, the following aspects of sustainable agriculture emerge:
  

1. i)  Meeting the changing needs of today and tomorrow,
   
2. ii)  Economic viability and enhanced productivity,
   
3. iii)  Successful management of external and internal, and renewable and non- renewable resources,
   
4. iv)  Maintenance, and preferably enhancement of the quality of environment,
   
5. v)  Conservation of natural resources, particularly, soil, water and biodiversity, which form the base of agriculture. 
   

A system should be considered sustainable if it uses inputs, both those produced on the farm and those purchased externally, in the most efficient manner to maximize productivity and profitability while minimizing their adverse effect on environment. In other words, technology or practice, which over a period causes adverse effect on soil, water, biodiversity or climate would be considered contributing to unsustainable agriculture.