I suspect that the ignorance of farmers also stems from the fact that in times of taxes (the tenth crop yield or other forms), they have learned to exploit the soil in order to produce sufficient yields. Over the centuries, land has been cleared for agriculture and rootless soil is blown away by the wind. Unless the legacy of the forefathers helped teach that topsoil is precious and microbiology takes time, this knowledge has probably been lost over time. Knowlegge gets disrupted by crisis, war or other catastrophes, so I think where this happened, it might be that survival and fear could be responsible for losing knowledge.
I think that many effects build up over the years and then become visible much later. As we know, the effects in nature come about with a time lag. The farmers are probably the least responsible. Self-suppliers are likely to be exploitative only if their environment does the same and you are pushed into a system that sees profit first. Smallholders who cultivate their land by hand or with animals are caught in a vicious circle if they cannot draw on knowledge and joint efforts to prevent the devastation of areas.
I think the information is now in the hands of the locals. An education campaign is underway. There is also an incentive program to allow ownership, so that the yield from the land will directly benefit the farmers and it will be in their self interest to use optimal farming practices.
Your point is well taken: In times of want, one doesn't worry about saving seed for the future, or preserving soil for next season. One worries about eating. Survival is a strong motivator.
I am totally for self help and learning how to cultivate nature with the least damaging methods. If this meets self interest, that is probably the best of combinations.
I agree. All of this is connected to the "boundary conditions". Relax the pressure and things may get easier back to normal, although we may have been too far in many cases.
Just to specify what I meant when I wrote "many". It may sound that this "may" is applicable to the farmers, but this is actually applicable to most people in general. So yeah, once again thanks for the clarification! ;)
That's the question, isn't it? I sometimes wonder where it's too far/late ... but then of course, I can think of a few. But I am glad, best practices are shown and researched, so that people do not lose hope and orient themselves on this better practice examples. We certainly need them all.
Oh, and yes, the potential to act where the profit points at is embedded in each of us, I agree. It's an act of will to work against it, I'd say :)