(a) whether scrutiny of records by the Union Government have revealed that State
Governments have accorded low priority to land management which includes soil and
moisture conservation resulting in decline in agricultural production;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the remedial steps the Union Government propose to take in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) to (c): No Sir. There is no evidence available in the Ministry of Agriculture which
suggests that State Governments have accorded low priority to land management
including soil and water conservation resulting into possible decline in agricultural
productivity. The State Governments are implementing various Centrally Sponsored
Schemes related to soil and water conservation to improve the productivity of degraded
lands and wastelands, such as
1) National Watershed Development Project in Rainfed Areas
2) Soil Conservation for Enhancing Productivity in the degraded watersheds in the River Valley Projects (RVP) & Flood Prone Rivers (FPR)
3) Watershed Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas in North-Eastern Region
4) Reclamation of Alkali Soil
5) Integrated Wasteland Development Project
6) Drought Prone Areas Programme
7) Desert Development Programme.