Key challenges to sustainable agricultural development include resource depletion, climate change, and limited farmer access to technology and funding. Additionally, weak policies, land loss, and labor shortages hinder the widespread adoption of sustainable practices.

Resistance in adopting new technologies due to traditional myths

Ihsan Radhe Hassuny

The implementation of sustainable agricultural development faces numerous challenges encompassing economic, social, technological, and ecological aspects. Financial sustainability is one of the key issues, as many small farmers lack access to the necessary funds or credits to implement sustainable technologies, while market pressures often favor cheaper, unsustainable practices. Additionally, the lack of adequate education and training for farmers on the benefits and application of sustainable methods makes this transition more difficult. Climate change further complicates the situation by bringing unpredictability in weather patterns, reducing soil fertility, and altering water needs. The legislative framework is often underdeveloped and variable, and existing policies may support unsustainable agricultural practices through subsidies. Loss of biodiversity and soil degradation, which are the result of traditional farming methods, also present serious challenges. Technologically, while there are innovations that can contribute to sustainability, the implementation of these technologies is often hindered by high costs, lack of infrastructure, and expertise. Finally, the market and consumption play a significant role as demand continues to be driven by cheaper, mass-produced goods, while consumers are not always willing to pay a premium for sustainable options. The successful implementation of sustainable agricultural development requires synergy between policies, technologies, education, and financial instruments, along with strong support for farmers and a shift in market and consumer habits.

The challenges facing agricultural development can be identified by the unavailability of agricultural inputs, the unavailability of agricultural land, the inadequate availability of water infrastructure and the embryonic industrialisation of the agricultural sector in certain regions.