THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIROMENTAL
STUDIES

NAMES COMPUTER NUMBER

CHILESHE MULENGA 2017012881

COURSE CODE : GSE 3330

COURSE CORDINATOR : DR SAKALA

TASK : ASSIGNMENT 2
DUE DATE : 04 SEPTEMBER 2020
QUESTION : Highest the environment and social impacts of
agriculture modernization through biotechnology
Equally social and environmental factors consume a opposing influence on agricultural
technology in such a method that the possessions that dissimilar farming performs take on
ecosystems everywhere them, and in what way those properties can be drawn backbone to
those applies. The environmental influence of agriculture differs grounded on the extensive
diversity of agricultural practices working around world. Eventually, this academic pierce of
writing will discuss the importance of the environmental impact be contingent on the
manufacture performs of the system by farmers. Consequently, the theoretical part of script
will pursue to climax the communal and environmental impressions of agricultural
modernization finished biotechnology and advanced a concise assumption will be drawn
based on what shall be discussed in the preceding.

Originally, hence this academic piece of writing will begin by defining the key terms then
discuss the importance of key words in the question shall be stated before the subject matter
of the question is jotted down. Agricultural modernisation is the process of transforming the
agricultural sector into one that is dynamic, technologically advanced, and competitive yet
cantered on human resource development, directed by the comprehensive philosophies of
societal righteousness. While biotechnology can be labelled as slightly technology that uses
breathing creatures to type or adapt a product for a practical purpose (Axelode 1984).

Consequently, there is a extensive change of environmental effects of agricultural

modernization, some of the environmental subjects that are associated to agriculture are
climate alteration, deforestation, deceased zones, genetic engineering, irrigation problems,
pollutants and soil degradation. Among the environmental problems listed above, irrigation
related problems occupy an important place. For instance, it can be said that water is the
blood of an ecosystem. Water not only influences the plants growth per set but serves as an
important medium of transfer for nutrients in soils.it influences the soil physical properties,
both directly and indirectly due to biochemical processes. (Pingali,1994).

Climate change being an environmental factor also has an adverse impact on agricultural
modernisation in that climate change and agriculture are interrelated processes, both of which
take place on a global scale. Global warming affects agriculture in a number of ways,
including through changes in average temperatures, rainfall and climate extremes. For
instance, when the atmosphere has a large composition of greenhouse gases such as carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrogen etc.as a result of falling rainfall the greenhouse gases will get into
contact with water forming some acidic substances which might be harmful on the agriculture
and retard plant growth, this type of rainfall is called acidic rain and it injuriously damages
crops(Downing 1986).

Deforestation on the other hand also influences agricultural modernisation in such a way that
it removes vegetation which anchors soil in place. For example, when land is cleared and
roots are ripped away, cash crops like coffee and soy are planted which can make erosion
worse since their roots cannot anchor into the soil like those of a tree. Another thing is when
trees are cleared out a reduction in rainfall will occur and increased extreme cold events
would negatively impact crops such as coffee, maize, soybean and wheat.

Furthermore, biotechnology is being used agriculture to develop crops that will further the
two goals of increased nutrient efficiency and decreased environmental damage. For instance,
drought tolerant crops allow for better water management, maintaining aquatic habitats as
well as drinking water, and surviving through water shortages. Nitrogen use efficient crops
which allow farmers to apply less N-fertilizer while maintaining similar yields. biotechnology
allows farmers to grow more food on less land using farming practices that are
environmentally sustainable. Through biotechnology, seeds yield more per acre, plants
naturally resist specific insect pests and disease and farming techniques improve soil
conservation (Arthur 1994).

Moreover, on the social aspects, in this modern era, tractors have helped farmer’s influences
there farming techniques in that tractors have traditionally been used on farms to mechanise
several agricultural tasks. Modern tractors are used for ploughing, tilling and planting fields
in addition to routine lawn care, landscape maintenance, moving or spreading fertiliser and
clearing bushes. Additionally, on the social aspects, one of the major problems facing
agriculture is the loss of agricultural land, because as more land is lost, it will become more
difficult to produce the amount of food needed to feed the growing human population. The
panel concluded that the main societal benefits of food biotechnology were increased
agricultural production, reduced loss due to pests, drought and disease through environmental
sustainability (Clay,2004).

In deduction, the unintentional environmental significances of concentrated agricultural

practices and contributions are diverse and possibly plain, in approximately belongings,
satisfying or cumulative agricultural efficiency be contingent upon dropping impacts to the
environment, such as upholding creative soils by avoiding salinization from irrigation
water.in other cases, however,
 REFERNCES

Axelrod, RM. 1984 The Evolution of Cooperation, Basic Books, New York.
Arthur, W.B. 1994. Increasing Return and Path Dependence in the Economy. University Of
Michigan press.
Clay, J. W. (2004). World agriculture and the environment: a commodity-by-commodity
guide to impacts and practices. World Wildlife Fund. Washington, DC: Island Press
Downing, T.E 1986. Climate change and World Food Security.
Pingali, P. L., & Rosegrant, M. W. (1994). Confronting the environmental consequences of
the Green Revolution in Asia. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.