Agricultural production of food for the human population uses ~1/3 of the Earth's land surface. What are two of the major environmental problems caused by this activity? What changes could be made to the agricultural system to help ease each of these problems?

a. Deforestation and pollution by pesticides and other excessive use fertilizers.

b. Policy measures, organic gaming, etc.

Explanation:

major environmental problems caused by this activity are as follows;

1. One of the major environmental problem is deforestation. Pressure is put on existing land resulting in the cut down of trees for agricultural purposes. Unsustainable practices like 'Slash and burn' type of agricultural practices by some rural communities has also resulted inn deforestation.

2. The excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers to increase production output leads to harming of crop quality and introducing pollutants in the food chain and thereby affecting the human health. Such excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers is also causing the problems of surface and groundwater pollution. The excess of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus also leads the eutrophication problem.

b) changes that could be made to the agricultural system to help ease each of these problems is as follows:

1. Policy measures for population control should be considered and recommendations by researchers properly adhered to.

2. Farmers must be trained on effective utilization of land. To feed such a huge population we need to take the measures like using high yield varieties of crops, by improving soil fertility etc. to produce more in less amount of land.

3. To feed such a huge population we need to popularize the initiatives like rooftop farming (to grow vegetable on house roof) among the farmers.

4. Farmers must drift towards organic farming. To save ourselves from pollutants entering the food chain and to have sustainable agriculture we need to shift more towards organic farming, which will also help us to stop the problems of surface and groundwater pollution.

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