Impact of Low External Input Agriculture (Leia) and High Eternal Input Agriculture (Heia) On Crop Productivity

Lecture No.
12
IMPACT OF LOW EXTERNAL INPUT AGRICULTURE (LEIA) AND
HIGH ETERNAL INPUT AGRICULTURE (HEIA)
ON CROP PRODUCTIVITY
Low External Input Agriculture:
The term low input agriculture has been defined as production activity
that uses synthetic fertilizer or pesticides below rates commonly
recommended by the Extension Service. It does not mean elimination of these
materials. Yields are maintained through greater emphasis on cultural
practices, IPM and utilization of on-farm resources and management.
The term low-input farming has often been used to describe any system
of alternative agriculture, if can be seen that it is distinctly different from
organic farming etc. nevertheless any system that reduced purchased
chemical inputs can be called low input farming, some examples are :
1. Poultry litter can replace nitrogen fertilizers in the production of

watermelons.
2. Legume cover crops can supply the total nitrogen requirements of
pecan trees.
3. Compost amended potting mixes produce superior vegetable
transplant than traditional soilless mixes.
4. No-till vegetable systems are feasible using reduced herbicides rates
to kill cover crops.
5. Subterranean clover living mulches supply nitrogen and weed
control in peach orchards.
Criteria for LEISA: (Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture)
A] Ecological criteria:
1. Balanced use of nutrients and organic matter.
2. Efficient use of water resources
3. Diversity of genetic resources
4. Efficient of genetic resources
5. Efficient use of energy resources
Mr. S.S. Nitave M.Sc. (Agri.) NET

6. Minimal negative environmental effects
7. Minimal use of external inputs
B] Economic criteria:
1. Sustained framer livelihood systems
2. Competitiveness
3. Efficient use of production factors
4. Low relative value of external inputs
C] Social criteria:
1. Wide-spread and equitable adoption potential, especially among
small farmers
2. Reduced dependency on external institutions
3. Enhanced food security at the family and national level.
4. Respecting and building on indigenous knowledge, beliefs and value
systems
5. Contribution to employment generation.
High External Input Agriculture (HEIA):
High External Input Agriculture (HEIA), production for the far off
markets necessitated use of external inputs like chemical fertilizers, hybrid
seeds, pesticides, irrigation etc. Increased dependency on high cost external
inputs in agriculture also made farmers to depend on external credit on a
regular basis. Cultivation of cash crops like cotton and tobacco, also led to
scarcity of fodder. This resulted in farmers giving up animal husbandry,
thereby resulting in acute scarcity of farmyard manure and making the use of
chemical fertilizers inevitable.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEIA AND HEIA :
Sr. Characteristics of LEIA Characteristics of HEIA

No.
1. LEIA realies on the optimal use of The farming pattern depends
natural processes. heavily on external and chemical
inputs.
2. The focus is on the sustainability The focus mainly on maximizing
of farming system yields coupled with increasing
specialization of production
3. Environmentally sound and that There is a great damage to the
have the potential to contribute to environment
the long-term sustainability of
agriculture.
4. HEIA depends on the higher HEIA depends on the higher
production and profit, without production and profit, without
consideration of the local needs consideration of the local needs
and local market. and local market
5. Greater diversification on farm low The number of products and
risk of failure and market commodities are very minimum,
fluctuation. lack of diversity in the farming
practices; as a result, there is
greater risk of failure and price
fluctuation.
6. LEIA maintains a healthy soil, Under HEIA system, soil quality
recycling nutrients on the farm, deteriorates, and there is
and utilizing approaches such as resurgence of pests, lack of
integrated pest management (IPM). resilience in the soil-plant
system
7. Best bet technologies, for example, In HEIA, there is lack of use of
soil and water conservation indigenous technologies.
(terraces, ditches, and vegetation
strips on sloping land), better
timing of operations, improved
crop spacing and densities,
manure or compost and water
application based on local
conditions.

Impact of Low External Input Agriculture (Leia) and High Eternal Input Agriculture (Heia) On Crop Productivity

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Impact of Low External Input Agriculture (Leia) and High Eternal Input Agriculture (Heia) On Crop Productivity

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture No.

Low External Input Agriculture:

1. Poultry litter can replace nitrogen fertilizers in the production of

Criteria for LEISA: (Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture)

Mr. S.S. Nitave M.Sc. (Agri.) NET

High External Input Agriculture (HEIA):

Mr. S.S. Nitave M.Sc. (Agri.) NET

Sr. Characteristics of LEIA Characteristics of HEIA

Mr. S.S. Nitave M.Sc. (Agri.) NET

You might also like