Reclamation of sodic soils 'through investment in people' --A success story

摘要

Simultaneous land degradation and explosion of population are the basic agrarian problems in North India. Consequently pressure on farm and forest land increases. As such out of a total of 329 Mha about 174 Mha of land is degraded in India. Unrestricted tree felling, overgrazing, deliberate fires and clearing of land for agriculture are the undisputed apparent reasons. Further erratic distribution of rainfall, lack of irrigation facilities, urge for over productivity through energy subsidies and small land holdings have further compounded the problem. Soil, the basic life support system, if once degraded, results in slow and difficult recovery. The deterioration in the soil fertility, productivity and land qualities have become a matter of serious concern. The land and water resources management has received top priority to improve the socio-economic condition of the locals. Lack of fodder for sizable animal population was a problem having serious repercussions on land degradation.