Revision: Food for All Environmental Studies 1 SSC (English Medium) 5th Standard Maharashtra State Board

Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K) are the three important nutrients among the various nutrients needed for plant growth. These three are called Principal Nutrients.

‘Biofertilizer’ contains living micro-organisms which, when applied to seed, plant surfaces, or soil, colonizes the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant. Thus, biofertilizers are organisms that enrich the nutrient quality of the soil.

“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access of sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” FAO – 2009.

According to eminent agricultural scientist M.S.Swaminathan, Nutrition security is, “Physical, Economic and social access to a balanced diet, safe drinking water, environmental hygiene, primary health care, and primary education.

• Green Revolution refers to the collective methods used to obtain maximum agricultural yield from minimum land to overcome food scarcity caused by population explosion.
• Development of high-yielding dwarf varieties of wheat and rice, along with proper use of fertilizers, pesticides, and water management, greatly increased food grain production.
• Dr. Norman Borlaug and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan played key roles in the Green Revolution, supported by research institutes like IARI, New Delhi, and other national agricultural research centers.

• Organic farming is an eco-friendly agricultural system that avoids chemical fertilizers and pesticides and maintains natural balance in farming.
• It uses organic wastes, biofertilizers, animal manure, and microbes to supply nutrients and maintain soil fertility.
• Crop rotation, biological pest control, and resistant local varieties are used to manage weeds and diseases naturally.
• Organic farming promotes sustainable agriculture, soil health, biodiversity, and long-term productivity, ensuring safe food for humans and environment.