(a) whether the fertility of cultivable land has adversely been affected due to seepage of salinity in soil across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) the extent to which agricultural production has been affected as a result thereof across the country, State-wise;
(d) the measures taken by the Government for reclamation of soil affected by salinity; and
(e) the extent to which the success achieved thereunder, so far?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
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(a) to (c). Salinity in the soil is mainly caused due to ingress of sea water through estuaries & rivers, irrigation with saline groundwater and water logging due to seepage from canal irrigated systems. Salinity also results in decline in productivity of the soil, however, there has not been any decline in overall foodgrain production of the country due to various technical interventions. As per available estimates (ICAR-2010), an area of about 2.7 million hectare is affected by salinity, 3.7 million hectare by alkalinity and 0.9 million hectare by water logging as per state-wise details given in Annexure-I.
(d) & (e): Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture has launched a National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) in April, 2014, which envisages reclamation problem (Alkali/Saline and Acid). NMSA also supports for promoting integrated nutrient management through balanced and judicious use of chemical fertilizers in conjunction with organic manures for improving soil productivity including enhancement of water use efficiency by promotion of on-farm water management technologies & equipments. Besides, Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture is implementing various Schemes/ Missions, namely; Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), etc. which have interventions for addressing the issues of soil salinity, alkalinity and water logging for sustainable agricultural production across the country. Due to technological interventions under these programmes/ schemes food grain production has increased from 213.2 million tonnes (2003-04) to 257.1 million tonnes (2012-13) and has further increased to 265.0 million tonnes in 2013-14. Besides, per hectare productivity has increased from 1727 Kg/ha. (2003-04) to 2078 Kg/ha. (2011-12) due to various technical interventions as per state-wise details given at Annexure-II.