Urban gardening and agriculture have become important elements of sustainable urban planning in the context of persistent urbanization amid limited resources. However, a consideration of the cultural-historical dimension has been lacking up to now. The editors present the first comprehensive outline of traditional forms of food production in cities to help preserve this valuable knowledge. On the basis of current research findings, they develop new perspectives and guidelines for recognizing traditional food production systems as an aspect of cultural heritage and for dealing with urban agriculture worldwide.
Agricultural heritage is an important book not only for the students pursuing a career in agriculture, but it is also for the people who have a keen interest in agriculture. The book sequentially explains the heritage of agriculture as it evolved. It describes the agriculture from the period it started and the conditions at that period, from Stone Age time. The book includes the insight of the global importance of the agricultural heritage system (GIAHS) journey of agriculture in India is an interesting story since it has a vast division of stages in it. This text is written to increase the understanding and significance of agriculture. It starts with the introduction of agriculture and the historical facts of it. Chapters maintain a continuous natural flow the information. The book is framed in the manner in which all the topics are covered in a compact form to reduce the exaggerated reading efforts.
This book is intended as a text book for under-graduate students in agriculture It will be a valuable references to professional faculty members, agricultural scientists, and students. Agricultural heritage indicates the values and traditional practices and methods adopted in ancient India; moreover, it is relevant to present day agriculture for sustainable agriculture. Agricultural heritage increase awareness and implant a sense of pride amongst the people of the rich unique heritage of Indian agriculture, to know as our agriculture has sustainable practices for generations and to stimulate scientific research based on traditional technology. This book is intended as a text book for under graduate students in agriculture. It will be a valuable reference to professional faculty members, agricultural scientists, and students. The book is consisting of twelve chapters, providing in depth description of key contents, issues and topics. The first chapter introduces the Agricultural Heritage, the second chapter focuses on ancient agricultural practices, third chapter explains Past and present status of agriculture and farmers in society, fourth elaborates history of agricultural development, fifth describes indigenous technology knowledge in agriculture and allied agricultural sector, sixth is devoted to crop voyage. agriculture scope, importance of agriculture and agricultural resources available in India have been explained in seventh chapter, eighth is devoted to crop significance and classifications, ninth chapter highlights the national agriculture setup in India, tenth describes the current scenario of Indian agriculture, chapter eleventh depicted to Indian agricultural concerns and future prospects. Chapter twelve describes on Indian Council of Agriculture Research institutes and chapter thirteen focuses on different types of model questions. The books has got true reflections of 5th Dean’s Committee recommendations in giving the syllabuses for the students in under graduate level to the State Agricultural Universities in the country and legacy of referral works in continuation and to follow up present day modern agriculture. The book would come to help with much contribution to the students, researchers, planners and policy makers throughout the country and abroad.
Contemporary agriculture is often criticized for its industrial scale, adverse effects on nutrition, rural employment and the environment, and its disconnectedness from nature and culture. Yet there are many examples of traditional smaller scale systems that have survived the test of time and provide more sustainable solutions while still maintaining food security in an era of climate change. This book provides a unique compilation of this forgotten agricultural heritage and is based on objective scientific evaluation and evidence of the value of these systems for present and future generations. The authors refer to many of these systems as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) and show how they are related to the concepts of heritage and the World Heritage Convention. They demonstrate how GIAHS based on family farms, traditional indigenous knowledge and agroecological principles can contribute to food and nutrition security and the maintenance of agro-biodiversity and environmental resilience, as well as sustain local cultures, economies and societies. Two substantial chapters are devoted to descriptions and assessments of some 50 examples of designated and potential GIAHS from around the world, including rice-fish culture in China, mountain terrace systems in Asia, coffee agroforestry in Latin America, irrigation systems and land and water management in Iran and India, pastoralism in East Africa, and the dehesa agrosilvopastoral system of Spain and Portugal. The book concludes by providing policy and technical solutions for sustainable agriculture and rural development through the enhancement of these systems.
Urban gardening and agriculture have become important elements of sustainable urban planning in the context of persistent urbanization amid limited resources. However, a consideration of the cultural-historical dimension has been lacking up to now. The editors present the first comprehensive outline of traditional forms of food production in cities to help preserve this valuable knowledge. On the basis of current research findings, they develop new perspectives and guidelines for recognizing traditional food production systems as an aspect of cultural heritage and for dealing with urban agriculture worldwide.
The book entitled “Agricultural Heritage” is written as a textbook for the students in agriculture in the all agricultural universities, agricultural colleges at the undergraduate level as per syllabuses of 5th Dean Committee’s recommendation taking account of lesson-wise 18 lecture plans derived from the content of the prescribed syllabus. In the past decade, the agricultural productivity increased substantially due to intensive management and introduction of fertilizer and irrigation responsive high yielding varieties of cereal crops to the fore. But it is essential to know that was where the agriculture started from the ancient past and that it reached to modern agriculture now as of today over a thousand of years in the process of civilization, social changes, and evolution. Though a few books are available on the title those did not have an arrangement of class lectures in accordance with the prescribed syllabus to give a ready-made and easy guidelines to the teachers for imparting lesson to the students. The course is being offered within the 1-3rd semester in undergraduate level within the curriculum. Hence, the attempt has been taken in arranging the prescribed syllabus systemically. This might be considered as the remedial measures removing the technical difficulties in bringing out a complete series of lesson plans to meet the demand.
Agriculture is often considered as one of the main threats to ecosystems. Unsustainable farming practices often result in habitat loss, inefficient use of water, soil degradation, pollution, genetic erosion, among other negative impacts on human life, including hunger, low food quality, reduced access to food resources, as well as the abandonment of rural areas. Nevertheless, when agriculture is practiced in a sustainable way, it can contribute to the preservation of many habitats, to the protection of watersheds, to the preservation and improvement of soil health. The use of sustainable and ecological practices is the key feature distinguishing traditional agriculture from intensive one. It may not provide very high yields, but ensures sustainable harvests over time, thanks to time-tested technologies and traditional know-hows and also represent examples of adaptation to harsh environmental conditions. Based on this approach, in 2002, FAO launched the concept of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, to identify and safeguard agricultural systems that are ensuring food and livelihood security, while maintaining magnificent landscapes, agricultural biodiversity, traditional knowledge, cultural and social values. This book presents 18 examples of these traditional agriculture systems around the world, with a special focus on Europe, Asia, Africa, Central and South America, as a result of the “GIAHS Building Capacity” project co-funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI) of the University of Florence (Italy).
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) are agroecosystems inhabited by communities that live in an intricate relationship with their territory. These evolving sites are resilient systems characterized by remarkable agrobiodiversity, traditional knowledge, invaluable cultures and landscapes, sustainably managed by farmers, herders, fisherfolk, and forest people in ways that contribute to their livelihoods and food security. The following publication is a collection of success stories from different Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) and aims so showcase the achievements made over the past 20 years since the establishment of the GIAHS programme of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). The publication will feature success stories from 1) Tanzania 2.) China 3.) Japan 4.) Italy 5.) Spain 5.) Peru and 6. Algeria to give an insight into the what has changed since the designation of these systems as a GIAHS.
