Bharucha, Zareen. How small farms are leading the way towards sustainable agriculture. Retrieved February 21, 2019, from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/small-farms-sustainable-agriculture-climate-change-africa-farming-a8786216.html
In the realm of sustainable farming includes the reduction of traditional methods such as the overuse of synthetic pesticides and fertilizer. Currently many farmers are switching to other methods which include using less resources to achieve the same results, substituting current products with products which are more sustainable, and changing the whole farm. Such reformations include push-pull integrated pest management, which includes using certain plants to repel and attract insects. For example, in east Africa, desmodium (pest repelling plant) is used to repel stemborers (pests) and napier grass is used to attract pests. Substitution includes switching old crops with new crops which can withstand sudden changes. Other scenarios may involve farmers adding new varieties such as plants with greater roots to help sequester carbon while also profiting from the plant’s produce.
This article relates to environmental science because small farms do not necessarily need to use pesticides or methods alike to rid or resist pests. The reason for why small farms are able to implement such sustainable methods is due to the maintainability and the size of the farm. Small farms are able to easily implement agroforestry, or using trees in agriculture, which reduces pests, uses less energy and synthetic products, and are climate resistant. Large farms, generally need to use pesticides to cover large areas, as agroforestry would be too hard to implement. Hence the reason for why small farms are more preferred than large farms extends beyond their effects on climate change, but as well as their various approaches to pest management, beyond praying and spraying.