IMPROVEMENT OF

FOOD RESOURCES
The various ways of
maximizing food resource
output from agriculture and
animal husbandry
 “It has been proven that of all the interventions to
reduce poverty, improving agricultural productivity is
the best.”
—BILL GATES
 INTRODUCTION
The Topic is introduced

INDEX AGRICULTURE
The ways of increasing agricultural output
ANIMAL
HUSBANDRY
The ways that animal husbandry can be improved
INTRODUCTION
 THE NEED TO IMPROVE
FOOD RESOURCES
There are many aspects to consider when improving the availability of food:
● We must find a way to supply enough food to sustain India’s massive population of
approximately 1.35 billion people.
● We cannot expand our cultivable land due to geographic limitations, thus, we must find
a way to make already existing land more beneficial.
● It is also unwise to increase fertilizer and pesticide usage, as they already cause an
abundance of negative consequences.
● Food should be made more accessible, not just available.
● With animal rights gaining momentum, inhumane farms for mass animal production
and slaughter will have to be revised.
AGRICULTURE
FACTORS AFFECTING
AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT

VARIET PRODUCT PROTECT

Y ION ION
The seeking of a good yielding crop It’s a gas giant and the biggest planet Mercury is the closest planet to the
seed. It is one using many methods in our Solar System. Jupiter is the Sun and the smallest one in our
and aims to increase the capability of fourth-brightest object in the sky Solar System—it’s only a bit larger
production for each sown seed. than our Moon
 VARIETY
The main objective of this method is to engineer or insinuate a seed
that is better yielding. It is attempted in several ways.
 ATTEMPTING VARIETY:

Hybridisation: The crossing of two genetically dissimilar plants. There are 3 types:
i. Intervarietal: Between two different varieties of plants.
ii. Interspecific: Between two species of the same genus [a classification of plants/animals
based on similar characteristics]
iii. Intergeneric: Between two different genera [plural of genus]

GMO: A specific insertion of genes into a plant to produce desired characteristics. Plant
breeds produced this way are known as GMOs [genetically modified organisms]]
BROAD
FACTORS FACTOR 1

TO BE Ability to germinate in harsher conditions

CONSIDERE
D: DA
Y1
FACTOR 4 FACTOR 2
DA DA
Ability to provide nutrition to Y4 Y2 Produce high yields, with tolerance
the consumer towards extreme conditions
DA
Y3

FACTOR 3
The seeds that are given should all
germinate under the same conditions as
each other.
KEY ASPECTS OF SEEDS:
❏ Higher Yield: More crops per acre

❏ Improved Quality: The quality of crop products increase

❏ Maturity Duration: The time the seed takes to mature into a crop. If this figure is lower, it allows the
farmer to crop more plants in the same growing season, and also lets the farmer cut down on costs, such
as irrigation.

❏ Wider Adaptability: The seed should be able to germinate and withstand environmental stress. This
allows it to grow in harsher conditions, thus providing versatility for its growing areas.

❏ Special Characteristics:
❏ Taller and profuse branches in fodder crops [feeding livestock fodder is easier and requires less
food]
❏ Shorter stalks in cereals, thus nutrients are focused in the head

❏ Resistance:
❏ Abiotic: Resistance against non-living elements, such as salinity, radiation exposure, extreme
temperatures, natural calamities, etcetera
❏ Biotic: Diseases, insects, nematodes, fungal and parasitic attacks.
Example Content:

Hybridization Selective Breeding

TRITICALE CORN
Triticale is a hybrid crop. It is a cross breed of rye About 10,000 years ago, farmers in Mexico
and wheat, originating from laboratories in noticed that some corn were different from others.
Germany and Scotland.In comparison to wheat, it They kept kernels from the plants with desirable
had a large amount of proteins, thus its adoption. qualities, that eventually led to modern-day corn
 PRODUCTION
The methods and inputs used by a farmer to generate crops. It depends largely on the
farmers’ initial investment.
 CROP
PRODUCTION
MANAGEMENT
There are three main aspects of production management:

i. Nutrient Management:
Supplying enough nutrients for the crop to grow

ii. Irrigation:
Providing water to the base of the crop for it to grow.

iii. Cropping Patterns:

The different ways of growing crops
Nutrient Management:
Air: Carbon, Oxygen
Water: Hydrogen, Oxygen

Macronutrients: Micronutrients:
➔ macro - (large-scale) ➔ micro - (small-scale)
➔ Macronutrients are the nutrients which ➔ Micronutrients are the nutrients which
plants require in large quantities. plants require in large quantities.
➔ EG: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, ➔ EG: iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper,
calcium, magnesium, sulphur. molybdenum, chlorine.
 FERTILIZERS VS
MANURE:
Although fundamentally they both have the same purpose, fertilizers and manure are very different:

Fertilizers: Manure:

1. Commercially produced plant nutrients. 1. Composed of organic material.

2. Produced in factories by using components 2. Prepared by decomposing natural plant material
from a petroleum industry. and animal excreta.
3. Contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. 3. Contains a diverse range of nutrients.
4. Are easily wiped away with flowing water, 4. Help in maintaining drainage due to large size,
leading to water pollution. and help the soil structure.
5. Excessive usage of fertilizers causes helpful 5. Allows us to recycle waste materials from the
microorganisms to die. farm in an environmentally friendly way
6. Reduces soil fertility with excessive use, thus 6. Helps against water logging with excessive use
organic material is not replaced
ORGANIC FARMING
Farming that relies on manure
and natural alternatives for
fertilizers, pesticides and
herbicides
 IRRIGATION
The supplying of water to crops at regular intervals, in order to facilitate its growth.
IRRIGATION Presently, 51.9% of cropped land is irrigated. The rest is rain-
SYSTEMS: fed.

WELLS RIVER LIFT SYSTEMS

There are two types: tube and dug Water is lifted from rivers and
wells. It is used to tap into directly supplied to crops. Useful in
groundwater reservoirs. areas with inadequate water supplies.

CANALS TANKS
The water is supplied from a Smaller storage reservoirs that
reservoir, and subdivided into smaller allow farmers to store water in
canals, that lead to the base of the for irrigation.
plant.
CROPPING
PATTERNS
MIXED CROPPING:
The practice of growing more than one crop on the same field in the same growing season is known as
intercropping. It allows for farmers to create variety in their yields and also allows farmers to keep
something incase one crop fails.

EXAMPLE 1
Wheat + Gram

EXAMPLE 2
Groundnut + Sunflower
INTERCROPPING:
The practice of growing different crops where they are grown in alternate rows and are grown
simultaneously to protect the soil from rain wash. The crops are selected to use different nutrients, so
they can share resources

EXAMPLE 1
Soybean + Maize

EXAMPLE 2
Finger MIllet (bajra) + Cowpea (lobia)
 PROTECTION
The main objective of this is to protect the crop from weeds, pests, and diseases to ensure
edible yields. It also encompasses
the storage of harvested crop.
25% ~ 33%
Of crops are spoiled in the storage phase.
 WEEDS are unwanted plants that grow alongside the main crop, and compete with it for
resources.

Xanthium: Parthenium: Cyperinus rotundus:

Also called gokhroo. It is a Also called gajar ghas. It Also known as motha. It is
flowering plant is a North American shrub an African medicinal herb.

WEED REMOVAL relies most commonly on herbicides and weedicides, such as:
● 2, 4 -D (weedicide)
● Dalapon (weedicide)
● MCPA (herbicide)
● Butlachor (herbicide)
 Pests are insects that attack crop, making them unfit for sale.
Pests attack in 3 ways:
1. Cutting the root, stem, and leaf
2. Feeding off of cell sap in plant cells
3. Bore into the stems and fruits of plants

These can lead to a loss in yield, thus, they are countered with pesticides and insecticides

Diseases in Plants are caused by pathogens of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Some examples include:
Rust of wheat
Yellow vein mosaic
Citrus canker

These are also responsible for spoilage of crops, both on the fields, and in the
granaries.
IN THE
STORAGE:
BIOTIC THREATS
Insects, Rodents, Fungi,
Mites, and Bacteria

AVOIDANCE
Strict cleaning of the
produce before storage, ABIOTIC THREATS
Proper drying of the produce Inappropriate moisture
first in sunlight and then in and Temperatures in the
shade, and Fumigation using place of storage
chemicals that can kill pests
(methyl bromide)
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

The breeding of animals for their

products.
FISHING
FISHING TYPES:

MARINE FISHING
Fishing that is conducted in open waters, like along the Indian
Coastline.

INLAND FISHING
Fishing that happens in canals, ponds, reservoirs and rivers
 MARINE FISHING
Marine Fishing is done outdoors, in open seas / oceans.
Marine Fishes are captured in this method, which are also referred to as saltwater fishes. due to their origin.
It is responsible for most fishing in the world, and focuses on fish like:
Tuna, Salmon,
Sardines, Pacific
Cod,
Indian Mackerel.

The pros of this are the job opportunities and economic stability in many areas. However, overfishing can
imbalance entire ecosystems, and cause them to totally collapse.
 INLAND FISHING:
The fishing of animals in reservoirs, canals, ponds, and rivers.

Inland Fishing also involves aquaculture:

● It is a form of farming, that is done in water.

● In aquaculture, fish, crustaceans, aquatic plants, and algae are harvested from a
controlled environment.
● It is done in both saltwater and freshwater environments.
CATTLE
CATTLE

LACTATION MAINTENANCE +
Cows that produce milk for PRODUCTION
greater durations are preferred. REQUIREMENTS
This is why lactation period is (i) The food needed for the
important. animal’s survival. (ii) The food
required for the animal to produce
milk

DISEASE VACCINATIONS
Diseases hurt animals as much as Vaccinations are given to farm
humans. Cows with stronger animals to protect against viral
immune systems can survive and in
longer, and resist diseases that
lessen their ability to produce
milk.
BEEKEEPING
 Bee Species:

APIS MELLIFERA APIS DORSATA

The most common bee,
Another bee species
also known as the ‘Western
that is found in South
Honey Bee’
and Southeast Asia

APIS CERANA

It is a bee native to
South and Southeast
Asia, including India.
POULTRY
 CROSSBREEDING
:
There are three main aspects of chicken breeding:

i. Number of chicks
ii. The resources required to maintain it
iii. Tolerance to climates
iv. The size of the egg-laying bird

By cross breeding different chicken genera and species, we can optimize a chicken that maximizes in
these categories
THANK
YOU