"Modern agricultural practices have exhausted land and water resources, squelched diversity and left poor people vulnerable to high food prices, even though they are also highly productive," a report by International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), to be released on April 15, says.
Recommending for traditional cultivation methods, it says, agricultural science emphasises on safeguarding natural resources and 'agro-ecological' practices, with the use of natural fertilizers, traditional seeds and intensified natural practices, and reducing the distance between production and the consumer.
Asking for an urgent action, the report says, many poors are now reliant on the global food market, where soybean and wheat prices have increased by 87 per cent and 130 per cent respectively in the last year.
Also global grain stores are on Tuesday at their lowest level and prices of staple foods like rice, maize and wheat are expected to rise due to increased demand, especially in China and India, and use of maize and soybeans for bio-fuels.
In addition, the report says, 35 per cent of the Earth's severely degraded land has been damaged by agricultural activities.
The IAASTD report, is the result of three years of cooperation between nearly 400 scientists, the governments of developed and developing countries, and representatives of civil society and the private sector, will be presented for approval at the plenary session of agency's intergovernmental panel which meets in Johannesburg from April 7 to 12.
(PTI)
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