Methods of reducing the negative impact of agricultural production on the environment

Introduction

Relevance of the problem: description of the problem of the impact of agricultural production on the environment.

Agriculture is one of the most widespread activities around the world, actively developing in almost every country. About 1.1 billion people are employed in this industry. Land is a key resource for agriculture, without which its existence would be impossible. However, despite this, people continue to use its resources irrationally, while the needs of mankind are constantly growing. As the population increases, there is a growing need for more food and more land for its production. Previously, factories, transport emissions and power generation were considered the main sources of pollution, but now agriculture is also recognised as a significant contributor to pollution. The realisation that these activities cause significant damage to nature began more than 40 years ago, and since 1980 the UN has listed agriculture as one of the four major sources of environmental hazards.

To meet the growing needs of humankind, more and more land is being developed for agriculture, resulting in significant changes in landscapes over vast areas. For example, subtropical forests once co-existed with the Ussuri taiga and jungles of Indochina on the Chinese Great Plain, but these ecosystems have been replaced by agricultural land. In the Interfluvial Plain, poor cultivation has caused soils to become saline, resulting in a loss of fertility. Such lands can take hundreds of years to recover. In America and Kazakhstan, deep ploughing caused sandstorms, Europe lost some of the broadleaved forests that prevented the development of new land, and in Ukraine steppes replaced fields. The list goes on, as the examples of agriculture's impact on nature are numerous and clearly demonstrate its destructive consequences

Fertilisers are regularly used to compensate for the loss of chemical elements leached from the soil. They play an important role in regulating the metabolic processes and the accumulation of nutrients in plants. However, safe fertiliser application requires consideration of soil conditions, soil characteristics and climatic conditions. Many people ignore these recommendations, which leads to regular oversaturation of soils with fertilisers. Improper storage and transport also contribute to environmental pollution.

1.     Main environmental problems of agriculture

Pesticides are used to control certain pests, weeds or diseases in agricultural areas. However, their impact is much wider than is realised, as they affect all living things they come into contact with. For example, treating fields with pesticides can kill up to 80 per cent of an ecosystem's biodiversity. Not only pests but also many other organisms are at risk. Moreover, pesticides can accumulate in fish and birds, endangering not only local ecosystems, but the entire global population exposed to these chemicals.

Chemicals also have significant impacts on water resources. Phosphate and nitrogen fertilisers and pesticides entering water bodies can lead to overgrowth (eutrophication) and the death of aquatic life. This is especially evident in spring, when the water table rises and fields are actively fertilised.

Land resources used in agriculture occupy about 13 per cent of the land surface. In a constant endeavour to expand these areas, people are draining swamps, irrigating deserts and cutting down forests. However, in their attempt to increase agricultural land, they are losing land that has already been developed. Every year, about 7 million hectares of land become unsuitable for farming. Currently, only 2.5 billion hectares are arable, compared to 4.5 billion hectares before intensive agricultural development. It would be more rational to concentrate efforts on preserving the most fertile soils rather than on developing new, less arable areas.

Figure 1 - Cluster of negative impacts from agriculture

2. Impact of agriculture on the environment in Uzbekistan

Agriculture has a significant impact on the environment. It affects soil quality, water resources, the atmosphere and biodiversity. Intensive land use leads to soil erosion and decreases soil fertility, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides causes pollution of water bodies and soil. Livestock farming contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases such as methane, exacerbating climate change. The disturbance of natural ecosystems by agricultural expansion can also lead to loss of biodiversity. Sustainable agriculture is therefore key to minimising its negative environmental impacts.

Figure 2 - Greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities in Uzbekistan, 2010-2017, %

Greenhouse gas emissions

Agriculture is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Uzbekistan. Between 1990 and 2012, greenhouse gas emissions from this sector increased by 27.1%, reaching 21.65 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2012. The increase in emissions is also associated with the development of livestock farming: the sector's share in total emissions over the period increased from 9.4 per cent to 10.5 per cent. The increase in methane emissions is particularly notable, up 98.2 per cent, due to an increase in the number of cattle and sheep. At the same time, nitrogen emissions decreased by 17.3% due to a decrease in the use of nitrogen fertilisers on agricultural land. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the main contribution to greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture comes from intestinal fermentation of animals (50.9% on average between 2010 and 2017), with synthetic fertilisers being the second most important source of emissions (15.8%) (Figure 2).

Soil

According to some estimates, more than 60% of all irrigated agricultural land in Uzbekistan (3,702,400 ha in 2018) is categorised as saline and about half of it is moderately or highly saline. The situation with soil salinisation is worsening due to inadequate maintenance of irrigation and drainage infrastructure.

Due to large-scale cotton monoculture production, land used without effective crop rotation measures or sustainable cultivation practices is being degraded. This leads to a decline in soil fertility due to deterioration of soil structure and low organic matter content.

According to an analysis carried out as part of the development of the 2019 Pasture Law, 78% of pastureland is recognised as degraded, which is mainly due to soil deterioration. The remaining pastures are also in poor condition, with productivity halved. This is confirmed by the reduction of fodder crop yields by an average of 2% per hectare. As a result of deteriorating soil quality, many farmers are forced to purchase fodder even during the grazing period. As of 2019, no systematic work on identifying, restoring and increasing the yield of degraded pastures has been carried out.

Water

Agriculture is the largest water consumer. Agriculture affects not only the quantity but also the quality of water. Because of the widespread practice of ‘flushing’ fields with water to reduce soil salinity, water quality also suffers. Farmers typically flush fields twice a year (first after harvest and then before sowing), and the water used for flushing, which is sent back into irrigation canals and rivers, may contain pesticides and other pollutants. This is a source of secondary salinisation and contributes to toxic sandstorms.

3.     Reforming agriculture in Uzbekistan

In 2018, the contribution of agriculture (including forestry and fisheries) to Uzbekistan's GDP was 32.4%. Agriculture is one of the largest sources of income for the rural population, accounting for about 60% of the total population. Between 2010 and 2017, the share of agriculture in employment remained stable at around 27% annually, indicating the crucial role of this sector in the labour market. This industry produces important goods for society, such as food and raw materials for industry. The economic and financial condition of many industrial sectors of the country, including cotton, textile, food, light and chemical industries, which account for about half of the country's industrial potential, is closely linked to the development of agriculture. Many experts emphasise the importance of this sector for socio-economic growth. For example, FAO studies have shown that agricultural development contributes more than other sectors to poverty reduction and has a multiplier effect on the economy.

The main important directions of the state policy in the sphere of agriculture in the period 1991-2016 were:

• Change in the structure of sown areas, reduction of cotton crops by almost 2 times in favour of grain crops. As a result, Uzbekistan, which previously imported more than 80% of its grain needs, gained grain independence;
• liquidation of state and collective agricultural enterprises and the creation of farms that ensure increased labour productivity on the basis of modern agro-technologies;
• diversification of the agricultural sector, development of potato farming, viticulture, beekeeping, poultry farming and fish farming;
• expansion of the system of favourable lending for agricultural production;
• сreation of a system of technical services for farmers and dekhkan farms, as well as supply of necessary material and technical resources (fuel and lubricants, chemical fertilisers, biological and chemical means of plant protection, seeds) for their needs;
• formation of a logistics system for storage and transport of agricultural products, as well as their industrial processing.

In 2017, a new direction appeared in Uzbekistan's agriculture - the cluster system. Clusters of various directions are being developed: cotton-textile, fruit and vegetable, seed, grain, meat and dairy, etc. The main purpose of clusters is to form a single chain uniting all processes of production of finished products - from growing raw materials to their processing and manufacturing of the final product. Of course, it should be noted that this system is just being established and there are problems in some parts of the chain, but the prospects for its further development will allow the most efficient use of the production potential of agriculture in Uzbekistan.

Presidential Decree №PD-4947 dated 07.02.2017. ‘On the Strategy of Action on Five Priority Development Areas for 2017-2021’ supported further development of agriculture by introducing systematic measures to mitigate current and future impacts of climate change and drying of the Aral Sea, including provision of technical assistance and advisory services on climate change. In particular, this concerned government agencies at central, regional and local levels, as well as the most vulnerable farmers and dekhkan farms.

Following the end of the previous strategy, the Government of Uzbekistan launched the ‘Strategy for the Development of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2020-2030’ approved by Presidential Decree No. PD-5853 of 23 October 2019. In particular, this strategy paves the way for reducing state involvement in the agricultural sector and for activities aimed at increasing private sector interest and investment in order to intensify, diversify and support continuous stable development in the agri-food sector, as well as to restore the need to address issues related to the rational use of natural resources and environmental protection.

In order to implement the strategy, priorities have been identified that are particularly influential in Uzbekistan's transition to a climate-resilient and green agriculture sector, laying the foundation for capacity building and improved resource management, among others:

• Priority 1 - ‘Creating a favourable agro-industrial environment and improving the value chain’: This priority primarily focuses on increasing value-added products, increasing the potential for exports from the agricultural sector, implementing a certification system in line with international standards, developing and implementing mechanisms to facilitate co-operation between large farms and smallholders in value chains.
• Priority 2 - ‘Reducing state involvement and improving the investment climate’: Aims to modernise, diversify and sustainably develop the agri-food sector by ensuring that effective systems are in place to attract and facilitate private investment.
• Priority 3 - ‘Ensure sustainable use of natural resources and enhance environmental protection’: Aims to enhance efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change through the sustainable and efficient use of resources, including water resources, agricultural land, forests and fisheries.
• Priority 4 - ‘Progressive diversification of public expenditure’: Aimed at enabling the reallocation of public finances to support the development and reform of support systems.
• Priority 5 - ‘Development of research, education, information and counselling services’: Aims to improve the business environment, increase rural human capital and support agricultural innovation and productivity by creating a system covering agriculture, food supply, education, training and information services that is flexible enough to meet modern needs, holistic in its consideration and modernised.

Reforming agriculture in Uzbekistan is aimed at increasing the efficiency of the agricultural sector, improving the use of land resources and introducing market mechanisms. Special attention is paid to the protection of the rights of farmers and dekhkan farms, sustainable land use and adaptation to climate change. The adopted legislative initiatives reflect the government's commitment to modernising agriculture, transitioning to a green agriculture sector, developing diversified farms and increasing the productivity of the sector, which is a key factor in achieving sustainable economic growth.

Conclusion

Reducing the negative impact on the environment requires comprehensive measures, including soil protection and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Soils suffer degradation due to intensive agricultural use, monocultures and excessive use of chemical fertilisers, resulting in soil fertility decline and erosion. Sustainable practices such as crop rotation, organic farming and minimum tillage, as well as the use of natural fertilisers and reforestation are important to protect soils.

At the same time, agriculture is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly methane and nitrogen. These emissions can be reduced through improved pasture management, optimised fertiliser use and increased livestock productivity. In addition, the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the agricultural sector will also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.

Despite the introduction of new varieties and intensive cultivation methods (of horticultural crops), sustainable development of the sector (with the exception of some small-scale projects) is still not recognised as an essential factor in ensuring progressive agricultural development in the long term. Uzbekistan's agricultural policy still does not pay sufficient attention to environmental aspects, including even the most obvious symptom - irrational water consumption.

In Uzbekistan, water losses in agriculture account for about 30 per cent of water consumption in this sector. By reducing or eliminating water losses, the country can address projected water shortages and save enough water to build reservoirs to smooth out fluctuations in annual water availability caused by rainfall variability. Strengthening the capacity of the agricultural sector to adapt to climate change can be achieved in Uzbekistan by reducing water losses.

Outdated irrigation methods and poorly maintained irrigation systems severely limit crop yields and lead to salinisation and low soil fertility. Water-saving irrigation technologies, which are favourable for soil fertility, are not widespread enough and are not being developed at an appropriate rate, despite their promotion by the government in the last decade.