What do you mean by LEISA farming approach? Explain with suitable examples.

LEISA (Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture) farming is an approach to agriculture that emphasizes reducing external inputs like synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides while promoting sustainable farming practices that work in harmony with nature. The LEISA approach aims to enhance productivity, conserve natural resources, and improve the livelihoods of farmers, particularly in smallholder farming systems. Here's an explanation of LEISA farming with suitable examples:

Key Principles of LEISA Farming:

1. Agroecological Practices: LEISA farming integrates agroecological principles, focusing on the interactions between plants, animals, and their environment. This includes practices like crop diversification, agroforestry, intercropping, and integrated pest management (IPM). For example, farmers in East Africa practice push-pull agriculture, where they intercrop maize with companion plants like desmodium and plant Napier grass around the field to repel pests like stem borers and attract beneficial insects like parasitoids.

2. Soil Health Management: LEISA emphasizes soil health through organic matter management, composting, mulching, and reduced tillage. By improving soil fertility and structure naturally, farmers can sustainably increase yields without relying heavily on chemical fertilizers. In India, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) promotes practices such as wider spacing, organic inputs, and alternate wetting and drying of fields to enhance soil health and rice yields.

3. Water Conservation: LEISA farmers adopt water conservation techniques such as rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, and contour farming to optimize water use and mitigate drought risks. For instance, farmers in dry regions of sub-Saharan Africa use stone bunds and terraces to capture and retain rainwater, reducing soil erosion and enhancing water availability for crops.

4. Biodiversity Enhancement: LEISA promotes biodiversity by integrating diverse crops, trees, and livestock on farms. This approach enhances ecosystem resilience, pest and disease management, and overall farm productivity. In Central America, shade-grown coffee farms maintain biodiversity by planting native trees, providing habitat for birds and beneficial insects while improving coffee quality.

Examples of LEISA Farming Practices:

1. Permaculture: Permaculture is a design approach that integrates diverse plants and animals into self-sustaining ecosystems. Permaculture principles like food forest gardening, companion planting, and natural pest control align with LEISA farming objectives.

2. Organic Farming: Organic farming aligns closely with LEISA principles by emphasizing natural inputs, biodiversity conservation, and soil health management. Organic farmers avoid synthetic chemicals and prioritize composting, crop rotation, and biological pest control methods.

3. Agroforestry: Agroforestry systems combine trees and crops to create diverse and resilient farming landscapes. For example, farmers in sub-Saharan Africa practice agroforestry by intercropping maize or cassava with nitrogen-fixing trees like Faidherbia albida, which improves soil fertility and provides supplementary fodder for livestock.

In summary, LEISA farming represents a holistic and sustainable approach to agriculture that prioritizes resource efficiency, biodiversity conservation, and farmer autonomy. By adopting LEISA principles and practices, farmers can enhance food security, mitigate environmental degradation, and build resilient farming systems capable of adapting to climate change and other challenges.