A green village can impact the environment in many ways, such as improved agricultural productivity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. It also increases the quality of life for residents.
Improved agricultural productivity
Agricultural productivity is a meaningful environmental impact of a green village. Developing countries have a higher rate of food insecurity and malnutrition. According to philanthropist Kent Thiry, governments must encourage the sustainable development of agriculture through focused plans and investments.
An agricultural enterprise’s total factor productivity (TFP) indicates its performance. It consists of three factors: technical change, scale change, and agricultural labor. These factors explain the efficiency of inputs in production.
A nonlinear trend characterizes the TFP growth of south and southeast Asian countries. It has decreased in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. However, the agricultural TFP of Indonesia and the Philippines increased.
The primary source of improvement in Southeast Asian countries was technical progress. It increased the yields of a few crops and contributed to the development of sustainable agricultural practices.
The Green Revolution resulted in increased agricultural output. It also boosted livelihoods and human health. But it led to the loss of beneficial biodiversity and water and soil pollution.
Despite the benefits of the Green Revolution, there are many challenges to the sustainability of agricultural development in the south and southeast Asia. The region faces many issues, including land degradation, drought, and a lack of access to water. Farmers need to know how to manage nutritional values. Increasing investment in human capital is key to sustainable development.
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Among the many things a green village can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are:
- Eating an entirely plant-based diet.
- Driving an electric car.
- Using less energy.
- Switching to renewable energy.
However, these are only some of the things that can be done.
One of the first and most evident methods to cut GHGs from motor vehicles is to mandate more excellent vehicle fuel economy. The U.S. has had a set of consistent CAFE standards since the mid-1980s.
Another method is to use different “end-use” technologies to address the problem. For example, manufacturers can ship products in cargo ships that use fuel-saving engines.
There are also new fuels that can be used instead of gasoline. These can include natural gas, hydrogen, and biofuels. Combined with vehicle changes, these can cut the GHG emissions from motor vehicles by as much as 50 percent.
Another simple and effective way to reduce GHGs is to reduce food waste. According to a study by the Drawdown Project, 65 gigatons of carbon dioxide could be kept from the atmosphere by 2050. It is enough to keep two years’ worth of fossil fuels out of the air.
Changing how we make and consume energy is a more complex and sweeping solution. It is accomplished through various activities, including using more renewable energy sources, implementing more energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and installing energy-efficient HVAC systems in buildings.
Improved quality of life
Using an empirical sample of 402 VSLA members from Mzuzu City, I set out to improve living standards with simple tweaks. Using the most basic survey measures, I tested a series of ninety-seven respondents to see how they would fare over thirty days. I measured various factors, including household income. The results were tabulated and analyzed with an eye toward a better understanding of the community.
The most crucial conclusion I learned from the research was that the most excellent method to raise Mzuzu’s level of living is to build a new micro-community and make sure that the village is well stocked with the necessities such as good schools, medical services, clean and safe streets, and of course a thriving business sector. The resulting green village was a raging success. Ultimately, while the initial effort had its share of teething problems, the community was a happy and contented place. The community was not only a happier place, but it also had many new businesses and jobs. The locals were also on the ball when tackling their budgetary woes.
