Food System: An important Agenda for local and global action:

Food is the most commonly discussed topic in today’s world. And why not? People across the globe are currently worried about the kind of food system we have. There is growing demand that existing food system should be transformed to make it more inclusive, nutritive, sustainable, nature positive and resilient and healthy! Similarly, such transformation should result in making food resources more accessible, available, adequate, affordable, safe, diverse and produced in a nature positive manner.

Food and nutrition security is a growing concern due to several newer and emerging challenges in the form of land fragmentation, labour scarcity, growing disconnect between agriculture and nutrition, climate change and associated challenges. Although agriculture is supporting food and nutrition security, it is also known to be contributing to GHG emissions. The challenge of feeding the ever growing number of people, still remains. COVID, Climate Change, War-like Crisis, unsustainable practices expressing nature’s boundaries, degrading base of natural resources, increasing incidences of human illnesses, health crisis and unaddressed issue of malnutrition and hidden hunger have necessitated us to urgently start reimagining our food system! It is a challenge even to reimagine a food system with scarce resources like water, healthy soils, finances, infrastructure, inputs and other support services.

World over, Food System has gained attention as an important agenda to discuss and plan actions for sustainable and healthy future of planet and people.  The countries, UN food Systems, Development and Research organizations at International, national and sub-regional levels, people’s movement and governments   are looking for best practices around food system transformations that need to be revived and upscaled.

What is Food Systems Approach?

It is aptly called ‘’System’’ as it consists of all the activities, actors and their interactions. All the actions from Farm to Fork like production, distribution, consumption, supply chain and value chain interventions from infrastructure, mechanization, governance aspects, marketing and value chain, etc. It also encompasses actors and enablers like farmers, government agencies, market players, financial institutions, insurance, FPOs, Investment players and other inputs and advisory service providers and associated socio-cultural, economic, behavioral, nutritional, environment and ecological impacts.

What are the buzz words and interesting discussion points in Food SYSTEM Dialogues:

It is very interesting to be a part of the discussions which focus on interventions one can think of while reimagining food system.

Globally, there is an urgent need to focus on agrobiodiversity for dietary diversity and healthy planet. Agrobiodiversity includes a variety of crops and livestock, which can provide a more balanced diet and help combat malnutrition. Diverse crops are more resilient to pests, diseases and changing climate conditions, ensuring stable food production even under stress.  Incorporating a variety of species can improve soil health and ecosystem stability, leading to more sustainable agricultural practices. Diverse genetic resources allow farmers to select varieties that are well-adapted to local conditions, increasing food security in different regions. Further, Agrobiodiversity can create new markets for underutilized crops, supporting local economies and improving livelihoods. What is important is not only to conserve these diverse resources along with their habitats but it is also important to conserve the traditional wisdom and  sustainable practices that are associated with these resources.

Food as our Medicine:

“Food as medicine” is both possible and increasingly recognized as a viable approach to health and wellness. A diet focused on whole, nutrient-dense foods can help prevent diseases. Many foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can prevent or mitigate health issues. Certain foods, like turmeric or ginger, have anti-inflammatory properties that can support overall health.

There are many research and scientific institutions who are working on fermented foods and probiotics which can promote gut health and gut micro flora.

Foraging practices for Healthy and resilient food system:

Foraging is a practice traditionally followed by many indigenous communities. This has significant implications for traditional knowledge and food security. Foraged foods are seasonal and local in nature such as wild greens, berries, mushrooms, and nuts. They can enhance dietary diversity and provide essential nutrients that may be lacking in conventional diets. These are often rooted in traditional knowledge passed down through generations, preserving cultural identities and community ties. In times of crisis e.g. natural disasters and economic downturns, foraging can serve as a vital resource for food.

Access to Healthy food via sustainable and diversified production system:

There is growing thrust on doing away with modern, high input-based, monoculture, commercialised and chemical farming and adopting utilizing methods like agroecology, mixed and multiple cropping, organic farming that can help in reducing  environmental impact, conserve resources and maintain soil health, leading to more healthy and safe food sources. An agroecological approach to farming can significantly address both hunger and environmental issues. Agroecology promotes the cultivation of diverse crops and livestock. Practices like crop rotation, cover cropping and reduced tillage improve soil fertility and structure, leading to better water retention and reduced erosion. Agroecological practices optimize the use of local resources so that cost is reduced. Healthy agroecological systems support pollinators, improve water quality, and enhance biodiversity, contributing to the overall health of ecosystems.

Promoting local food system, local markets that are people-led:

Involving local communities in decision-making about food production can empower them and ensure that farming practices are culturally and contextually appropriate. Strengthening local food networks reduces dependency on global supply chains, making communities more resilient and ensuring fresher produce is available.

Local food markets including village haats (local markets), play a vital role in enhancing food security, ensuring seasonal and local food availability and supporting local economies. Local markets make fresh, healthy food more accessible to communities, reducing the distance that food travels and ensuring it reaches consumers quickly. Village haats provide a direct link between farmers and consumers. Further, Village haats often reflect local traditions and culinary practices, preserving cultural heritage and fostering pride in local food systems. It creates more opportunities and spaces for farm women to participate as main decision makers in food production and in sell-related activities.

Focus on role of Women in food system transformation:

In many regions, women contribute significantly to food production, often growing a diverse range of crops that enhance dietary diversity and nutrition for their families and communities. Their insights can be invaluable in transforming food systems. Women are custodians of traditional knowledge of local food systems, nutritional aspects, food traits and local recipes. Women are key educators within families and communities. At home too, they can drive better dietary choices and improve health outcomes. Women are often at the forefront of adapting to climate change impacts, using traditional knowledge and innovative practices to enhance resilience in food systems. Women play a vital role in preventing food loss and waste across various stages of the food system.

Livestock-based food options are vital for future food systems, offering nutritional diversity, economic opportunities, and sustainable practices. There is growing interest on incorporating insect protein into diet that can offer a high-protein, low-resource option. Fermented dairy products like yogurt and cheese can enhance nutrition and offer functional health benefits such as improved gut health. Developing resilient and disease-resistant livestock breeds through research can enhance productivity and sustainability in future food systems.

However, interestingly, vegetable sources that mimic or provide similar nutritional profiles to non-vegetarian foods are gaining popularity, especially among those looking for plant-based options. A lot of research and innovations are happening in this space too.

Are there any Key Lessons for India?

All the above food system-related actions are important considerations for Food System transformation in India. Further, in India, we need to keep small holder farmers, indigenous communities and farm women at the centre of any food system transformation process. As almost 84% of the farming is led by small and marginal farmers, there is growing feminization of farming and indigenous communities and tribal areas have tremendous amount of amazing food system-related traditional knowledge which needs to be relooked and revived.  

There is an urgent need to foster Food System transformation by focusing on innovations and newer research while also learning from our culture and traditions. There is also a need for effective institutions and enabling policies and programmes to facilitate such a transformation in India.

Dairy development is the cornerstone of rural livelihood, contributing significantly to the economy of the nation and the well-being of thousands of farming families. As one of the pioneering organisations in dairy cattle development in the country, BAIF has been promoting sustainable and climate-resilient dairy development through genetic improvement of indigenous cattle population. In this blog, we explore BAIF’s comprehensive approach to enhancing the productivity and resilience of indigenous breeds and their significant contribution to the dairy sector.

Importance of Indigenous Breeds

Indigenous cattle breeds in India have evolved over centuries, adapting to diverse climatic conditions, diseases and local available feed and fodder practices. They are known for their resilience, disease resistance and ability to thrive in harsh environments. However, due to the increasing preference for exotic breeds, the population of indigenous breeds has been declining. BAIF recognizes the need to conserve and improve these native breeds to ensure the sustainability of the dairy sector in India.

Genetic Improvement: A Core Strategy

At the heart of BAIF’s dairy development programme is the genetic improvement of indigenous breeds. Genetic improvement involves selecting animals with superior traits, producing frozen semen, and disseminating it through artificial insemination (AI) in the respective breeding tracts. This systematic approach not only enhances the productivity of individual animals but also contributes to the overall genetic pool of the breed, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Selection and Frozen Semen Production

BAIF’s efforts in genetic improvement begin with breed surveys and population studies which provide valuable insights into the population structures of various breeds. These studies are guided by quantitative genetic principles, enabling BAIF to identify superior animals for breeding programmes. BAIF has been involved in characterizing notable indigenous breeds such as Dangi, Khillar, Krishna Valley, and Kathani cattle. These efforts have been instrumental in conserving these breeds and ensuring their continued contribution to India’s dairy industry.

One of the key components of BAIF’s breeding programme is the production of frozen semen. BAIF operates state-of-the-art semen production facilities, accredited by the Central Monitoring Unit (CMU) of the Government of India in Jind, Haryana and the Central Research Station in Urulikanchan. These facilities produce frozen semen doses for 18 cattle breeds, including Gir, Sahiwal, Khillar, Amritmahal, Dangi, Hallikar, Tharparkar, Ongole, Krishna Valley, Gangatiri, Red Kandhari, Nimari, Red Sindhi, Rathi, Gaolao, Nagori, Deoni and Hariyana.

Artificial Insemination for superior progeny

BAIF has made effective use of Artificial insemination (AI) as a tool for disseminating superior genetics across a geographical area. By providing farmers with access to high quality semen doses, BAIF ensures that the benefits of genetic improvement are realized at the grassroots level. In the past five years, BAIF has produced over 151.87 lakh frozen semen doses from indigenous cattle breeds catering to the AI needs of field animals across the country.

Conservation of Indigenous Breeds

In addition to genetic improvement, BAIF is also committed to the conservation of indigenous breeds. Conservation efforts are essential to preserving the unique genetic traits of these breeds, in the face of changing environmental conditions and emerging diseases.

In-Situ and Ex-Situ Conservation

BAIF makes effective use of in-situ and ex-situ conservation methods to safeguard indigenous breeds. In-situ conservation involves preserving the breed in its natural habitat, while ex-situ conservation includes measures such as collection and storage of genetic material. BAIF has collaborated with the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) to produce and store frozen semen doses for Krishna Valley cattle. These efforts ensure that the genetic diversity of this breed is preserved for future generations. BAIF was also a part of the animal biodiversity project in which 40,000 semen doses from Khillar, Dangi, Rathi and Nagori breeds (10,000 doses of each breed) were deposited at the National Gene bank at NBAGR as a part of ex-situ conservation.

Field Performance Recording and Collaboration

To support its conservation and genetic improvement initiatives, BAIF conducts field performance recording (FPR) for various breeds. FPR involves systematically collection of data on the performance of individual animals which helps in selecting the best animals for breeding. BAIF undertook the FPR of Khillar cattle between 2010 and 2012 with the support of Maharashtra Livestock Development Board (MLDB). More recently, BAIF completed another FPR project for Khillar, Deoni, and Gaolao breeds.

Biotechnology and Genomics: The Future of Dairy Development

BAIF is adopting cutting-edge technologies to further enhance the productivity and sustainability of indigenous breeds. Biotechnology and genomics are playing an increasingly important role in BAIF’s programmes, offering new avenues for genetic improvement and conservation.

IVF and Sex-Sorted Semen

BAIF has established advanced facilities for the production of embryos through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and sex-sorted semen. Sex-sorted semen allows farmers to increase the likelihood of producing female calves. Over the past five years, BAIF has produced 3.11 lakh sex-sorted semen doses for indigenous cattle. These innovations are empowering farmers to maximize the potential of their herds while contributing to breed conservation.

Genomics and Population Studies

In collaboration with reputed international universities like the University of New England and The French National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), BAIF is applying genomics to better understand indigenous population structures. Genomic tools are being used to assess genetic diversity, effective population size, breed relatedness, and genetic purity. These insights are crucial for developing breeding programmes that maintain the genetic integrity of indigenous breeds.

National Bovine Genomic Centre and Indigenous SNP Chip Development

BAIF is also a member of the National Bovine Genomic Centre (NBGC) for Gir cattle. This initiative is focused on developing genomic selection protocols that will further enhance the genetic improvement of cattle breeds. BAIF is also a consortium partner in a project to develop an indigenous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip for Indian cattle. This project, in collaboration with NBAGR, NDDB, and NIAB, Hyderabad, aims to create a powerful tool for genomic selection in Indian cattle, marking a significant milestone in the genetic improvement of indigenous breeds.

Empowering Farmers and building Resilient Livelihoods

BAIF’s efforts in genetic improvement, conservation, and the application of biotechnology are not just about enhancing the productivity of cattle but also about empowering farmers and building resilient livelihoods. By providing farmers with access to superior genetics and cutting-edge technologies, BAIF is enabling them to improve their herds, increase their income, and contribute to the overall development of rural communities.

Pilot Projects and Field Implementation

One of the standout initiatives is BAIF’s pilot project on the use of biotechnology tools in livestock for sustainable development of families in the desert areas of Rajasthan. This project with its focus on Tharparkar breed of cattle, was implemented with support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi. The project demonstrated how the application of advanced breeding techniques significantly improved the productivity and resilience of livestock in challenging environments.

Road Ahead: Scaling Impact and Ensuring Sustainability

BAIF continues its efforts in promoting sustainable and climate-resilient dairy development by blending traditional breeding practices with cutting-edge biotechnology.  BAIF plans to expand its genetic improvement programmes to reach more farmers and cover a larger number of indigenous breeds. It is also striving to integrate genomics into its breeding programmes, enabling even more precise selection of superior animals. BAIF is also exploring new ways to leverage technology for data collection and analysis, which will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its breeding and conservation efforts. Thus, BAIF is not only preserving India’s rich livestock heritage but also paving the way for a prosperous future for millions of dairy farmers across the country.

Increased anthropogenic pressure and livestock population have depleted the natural resources to an alarming extent. Land degradation accompanied by acute scarcity of water and frequent droughts, has resulted in a serious shortage of fodder for livestock. The situation which is close to a famine-like situation, has led to food insecurity and poverty forcing the rural population in such regions to migrate to other areas for survival.

Promotion of Unconventional fodder resources

There is a need to explore new fodder crops to address the issue of fodder scarcity in semi-arid regions. With 53.4 per cent of the land area in India comprising of arid and semi-arid regions, fodder cultivation is suitable for such areas.  Unconventional fodder such as cactus (Opuntia ficus indica), Hydroponic fodder and azolla have good potential to serve as alternate sources of fodder for animals.

Spineless cactus : Spineless cactus also known as Prickly pear or Cactus pear, of Mexico origin and a member of the Cactaceae family, is a domesticated plant is a reliable source of food and fodder in arid and semi-arid regions of the country. Besides fodder, cactus also has the capacity to produce good biomass throughout the year with minimum water. It is a drought tolerant multipurpose plant species, easy to establish, in rangelands and pasturelands with its ability to facilitate soil and water conservation.

Cactus, is a Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) crop, where the stomata in the leaves remains shut during the day to reduce evapotranspiration but opens at night to collect Carbon dioxide (CO₂). The stored CO₂   is then used during photosynthesis during the day time. Due to this physiological character, it has high water use efficiency making it an excellent suitable crop species in water-stressed conditions. Cactus is rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus and potassium and has moderate protein and fibre content. It has a high biomass yield, high digestibility, palatability and moisture content. It can be cultivated in poor, degraded land which is not suitable for other crops. Cactus leaf known as cladode, is a source of fodder for livestock especially during the dry season when green fodder is not available. Cactus contains more than 85% of water and can be fed with other fodder crops during dry spell conditions.

Thus cactus is an excellent fodder crop compared to other conventional fodder crops such as acacia. While this particular cactus species uses 267 kg of water per kg dry matter (DM) produced, Pearl millet, a prominent drought-tolerant cereal crop uses 400 kg water per kg DM produced.

Cactus may be planted during September-October or in February-March. It is propagated through the cutting of cladodes, using at least 6-month-old cladodes. To get a good yield of cladodes, cactus may be planted at a distance of 3 x 2 or 3 x3 m distance by erect planting, keeping one-third portion of the cladode above the soil on field bunds, wastelands and degraded lands.  Perennial cactus can produce green fodder up to 20-25 years. Cactus cladodes should be harvested by cutting the mature cladodes with a sharp knife into small pieces. While feeding the animals, it should be mixed with dry fodder in 1:3 ratio.  It prevents soil erosion, protects the biodiversity, and encourages arable crop diversification for sustainable livelihood and food security.

BAIF has standardized nursery techniques and tissue culture protocol for mass multiplication and production of cactus. Cactus nurseries have been established for availability of planting material. Protocol has been developed for feeding of cactus.

BAIF has introduced and demonstrated cactus on more than 1000 farmers’ fields in arid and semi-arid regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Hydroponics Technology for Fodder Production

Hydroponics fodder: To ensure the availability of quality green fodder throughout the year, hydroponic fodder production technology by vertical farming is being promoted.  This low-cost technology, ensures the growth of fodder in water without any soil, in controlled conditions/environment which require almost no land, very little water and manpower. Seed, optimum water, sunlight and added nutrients are the only essential inputs required to grow as green fodder and as feed for animals after about 7-8 days. Farmers cultivating cereals such as maize, oats, barley, bajra and wheat   are making good use of hydroponics to produce superior quality nutritious green fodder for animals.

Clean, viable, good quality and untreated, unbroken grains should be used. The seeds are soaked in normal water for 4-24 hours, depending on the type of seeds followed by draining, packing soaked seed in a gunny bag for germination, sprinkling water daily over the gunny bag to maintain optimum moisture and placing the germinated seed in the individual trays for growing inside the hydroponic unit. Water needs to be sprinkled every one hour on a tray and continued till harvest. The seed rate (quantity of seeds loaded per unit surface area) also affects the yield and varies with the type of seeds. The greenhouse needs optimum cleanliness and hygiene to be maintained to ensure successful production of hydroponics fodder.

To ensure green and quality fodder, BAIF has designed low-cost hydroponic fodder units for cultivation of maize and oats.

Azolla :Azolla is an aquatic fern and contains most of the nutrients, crude protein (about 23%), minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, vitamins A and B12 and essential amino acids like lysine required for livestock.

Among the different species of the genus Azolla, A. pinnata is more popular for cultivation in artificial ponds. Azolla prefers shade and requires light (30-50%) for photosynthesis. It grows well in warm climate with an ideal temperature in the range of 20-35°C. Azolla can survive in a water pH range of 3.5–10, but optimum growth occurs when the water is between pH 4.5 and 7.

The soil needs to be dug at least at a depth of 20 cm depth and levelled.   A plastic sheet 10 feet long and 4 feet wide needs to be placed on the ground with a durable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet, to prevent water loss. The bed should be preferably under the shade of a tree or partial shade needs to be provided with grass or a green net on the top to prevent fall of debris like dried leaves and other litter on the bed.  Azolla bed 12x4x1 feet size is also available in the market.  About 10 – 15 kg of sieved fertile soil needs to be spread uniformly on the sheet followed by slurry made with 1 kg cow dung and 100 g of superphosphate.  The bed needs to be filled with water to a level of about 10 cm and the pond left aside for 2-3 days to enable the ingredients to mix well. After 10-15 days, azolla will be observed on the bed and the farmer can harvest one kg Azolla every day. After harvesting, Azolla should be cleaned with fresh water and fed to the animals by mixing with regular feed.

To make available protein-rich nutritious fodder for cattle, goats and poultry, BAIF has set up azolla demonstration units on farmers’ fields in Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka and Gujarat.

Thus, unconventional fodder resources are a boon for smallholders in arid and semi-arid regions with scope for livelihood security and reversal of migration.

India is an agricultural country. Irrigation is the basic requirement of agriculture. A look at the data at the global level reveals that the maximum use of water is in agriculture.

On the one side, most parts of the country have a hot climate which leads to excessive evaporation and increased consumption of water while on the other side, there is inequality of rainfall which makes it necessary to develop irrigation facilities, especially in low rainfall areas. Most of the rainfall in the country occurs in a particular season.

Drip irrigation is an advanced irrigation system which ensures the availability of water to the root of ​​the plant at short intervals through specially made plastic pipes. This system of irrigation is beneficial as there is 60 percent less consumption of water as compared to traditional irrigation, increase in productivity by 40 to 50 percent and superior quality of the produce. Drip irrigation is a very popular method of irrigation in countries such as Israel, USA and Spain.

Water can be applied with high uniformity through drip irrigation and can prevent runoff and excessive spraying. Drip irrigation is suitable for protective cultivation in greenhouses, shade nets and low tunnels. It provides controlled application of water and nutrients to each plant without wetting the leaves, which is an important feature for high-value crops such as flowers, potted plants and greenhouse vegetables. Saline and poor-quality water can be used more safely through drip irrigation as compared to any other method of irrigation. It is well suited for a variety of row crops ranging from widely-spaced fruit crops to closely-spaced vegetable crops.

Initiatives taken by BAIF

Looking at the problems of water scarcity, irregularity of water, saline water, etc. in Rajasthan, BAIF’s Samadhan project is enabling farmers to practice agriculture through drip irrigation in Udaipur, Chittor, Rajsamand, Bhilwara and Ajmer districts.  As a result, farmers are receiving higher yield and annual income. Farmers are making judicious use of drip irrigation for horticulture, vegetable production and other crop production. In horticulture, plants receive water uniformly through drip irrigation. This method of irrigation makes it very easy to produce vegetables in less water. In this, mulching paper is also used along with drip, which reduces weeds and reduces water evaporation. Hence, drip irrigation reduces weeds, saves water and saves labour in horticulture.

Benefits for farmers

Water saving: In drip irrigation system, water does not flow on the soil surface or through the air. Hence run-off losses are totally eliminated. Due to controlled flow and application of small quantity of water, deep percolation losses are also reduced to a great extent.

Improvement in plant growth and crop yield: As this method allows efficient use of small quantity of water repeatedly, it is possible to maintain the water content in the root zone of the soil close to field capacity or within acceptable deficient soil moisture. At this stage, soil moisture stress is low and the plant does not need to exert too much to extract water from the soil. It thus improves plant growth and in the process achieves higher crop yield as compared to other methods.

Labour and savings: There is considerable saving of labour, as a well-designed system requires labour only to switch the system – on or off. This method is also suitable for low to high level of automation in the application of water and fertilizer. Hence, expenditure on manual labour can be reduced to a great extent.

Energy Saving: Due to high efficiency of irrigation, less quantity of water is required and less time is taken to supply the desired quantity of water.  Thus, this method saves energy.

Weed Control: Due to partial wetting of soil in drip method, weed infestation is less as compared to other irrigation methods. This reduces the requirement of expensive and environmentally hazardous chemicals and labour required for application of these chemicals.

Increase in Fertilizer Application Efficiency: In drip irrigation system, water soluble fertilizers can be used. Since water can be accurately applied in the root zone, the fertilizer can also be applied in the root zone of the crop itself. Hence, losses of fertilizers in the process of deep percolation, leaching, runoff etc. can be eliminated to a great extent, thereby saving precious fertilizer, causing minimum hazard to the environment and reducing ground water pollution.

Zero soil erosion: Since water does not flow on the land surface, there is no soil erosion due to drip irrigation.

Minimal disease and pest problems: In drip system, minimum disease and pest problems are observed due to low atmospheric humidity.

Thus, Drip Irrigation is the key to agricultural profitability as it ensures returns on investment.