Improving plant nutrient management for better farmer livelihoods, food security and environmental sustainability
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Agricultural development in Asia-Pacific during the last decades has concentrated on two basic short-term objectives: improving crop yields and improving the incomes of small and resource poor farmers. In most instances, government policy-makers focused on providing support to proper and balanced plant nutrition. Fertilizers heavily favored Urea whose impact on the physical appearance of plants is easily recognizable by farmers. The net result was the excessive use of Urea which eventually cr eated an unfavorable imbalance of Nitrogen with Phosphorous and Potassium nutrients. This imbalance has been recognized as the emerging major culprit in the decline and stagnation of food crop production and the general decline in soil fertility and production capacity in practically all countries in Asia and the Pacific region. A case in point was cited by the experience in India which reported that, as food production increased with time, the number of elements becoming deficient in soils a nd crops also increased. Micronutrient deficiencies in soils over long periods of nutrient imbalance in intensively used croplands are also emerging as yield limiting factors. As a way to strengthen awareness and improve common understanding of the complex dynamics of sustainable crop production, soil nutrient management and soil stability, the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific conducted a regional workshop from 12 to 16 December 2005 in Beijing, China on improving plant nutrient m anagement for better farmer livelihoods, food security and environmental sustainability. Participants from 17 countries in the region discussed and identified country-relevant issues and exchanged ideas and recommendations to collectively formulate technical and policy measures on developing both country and region options for making integrated plant nutrient management the alternative technology for sustainable crop production and soil fertility management. It is hoped that this will enhance the capacity of farmers to use organic and inorganic fertilizers safely and help protect the regions' soil resources. The report contains recommendations, conclusions and country papers.