(a) whether soil loss and soil depletion have reached serious proportions in the flood-
prone States;
(b) whether any monitoring has been done to determine the loss of soil as a result
thereof on an annual basis;
(c) if so, the details regarding the worst affected States in terms of soil loss and soil
depletion; and
(d) the steps taken to check soil loss and soil depletion alongwith the involvement of
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) labs therein?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE(SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 152 DUE
FOR REPLY ON 10TH MARCH, 2008.
(a) to (c): The process of soil erosion and its formation is a natural process which is
occurring simultaneously in natural eco-system to maintain the equilibrium. The soil erosion
by rainwater takes away the productive top soil, resulting in depletion of soil fertility and
thereby reducing its productivity. The monitoring of soil loss on some selected watersheds
as well as field size catchments for research purposes is being done by Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR). The average rate of soil erosion in the country is 16.4 tonnes
per hectare per year which is more than the permissible value of 10.00 tonnes per hectare per
annum. Out of total geographical area of about 328.60 million ha, 220.70 million ha. is within
the permissible limit of soil erosion in the country. However, about 107.90 million ha. is
subjected to high rate of soil erosion. Out of total eroded soil, 61% simply moves from one
place to another, nearly 29% is lost permanently to the sea and remaining 10% is deposited in
the reservoirs. The soil erosion leads to land degradation in upper reaches of the river system,
whereas when deposited at various locations in middle and lower reaches of river systems, it
may increase the soil fertility.
The most affected States are Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Shiwalik hills of Punjab &
Haryana, hills of Orissa & Jharkhand, Plains of Uttar Pradesh & Bihar, Coastal areas of Gujarat
& Maharashtra, several parts of North – Eastern States & western Rajasthan.
(d): The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed several location specific
bio-engineering erosion control techniques along with rehabilitation measures (through various
agro-forestry/integrated farming system interventions) which are being implemented through
different integrated watershed management programmes run by various agencies to check soil loss
and soil depletion in the country. Based on the recommendations of ICAR, suitable development
measures for prevention of soil loss and soil depletion have been developed and being implemented
by Government of India under various Watershed Development Programmes with a view to minimize soil
erosion, land degradation and thereby preventing soil depletion & sustaining agricultural
production in the country. These programmes are:
(i) National Watershed Development Project for
Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA),
(ii) Soil Conservation for Enhancing the Productivity of Degraded Lands
in the Catchments of River Valley Project and Flood Prone River (RVP & FPR),
(iii) Reclamation
of Alkali Soils (RAS),
(iv) Watershed Development Projects in Shifting Cultivation Areas
(WDPSCA),
(v) Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP),
(vi) Desert Development Programme (DDP),
(vii) Integrated Wasteland Development Project (IWDP),
(viii) Watershed Development Fund (WDF)
and (ix) Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) in the country. Under these programmes, since
inception upto end of X Five Year Plan about 50.83 million ha. of lands have been developed as
per scheme-wise details annexed. In addition to above, for sustaining the soil fertility of depleted soil, Government of
India is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Balanced & Integrated Use of Fertilizer
through Macro Management of Agriculture for promoting soil test-based application of chemical
fertilizers and strengthening of soil testing facilities as well as for setting up of compost
plants for conversion of biodegradable city waste into organic manure. A National Project on
Organic Farming has also been launched as a pilot project in October 2004 for production,
promotion, certification and market development of organic farming in the country.