India Struggles to Combat Soil Erosion: The Call for Sustainable Efforts
New Delhi, November 19: While 30% of India’s agricultural land suffers from soil degradation, the country is facing an increasing crisis that threatens food security and sustainable development. The minister for agriculture underscored the urgent nature of the issue at a conference held on Tuesday.
Causes of Soil Degradation
Excessive application of fertilizers, imbalance in nutrient supply, and poor soil management practices are among the major causes of soil degradation. Climate change resulting from high temperatures and irregular and unpredictable rainfall also accelerates the degradation process. Consequently, these degrading factors collectively degrade the health of the soil, thus affecting the agricultural productivity and millions of farmers’ livelihood.
Government Initiatives for Degradation
Some of the government initiatives to address soil degradation include:
The Soil Health Card Programme has distributed more than 220 million soil health cards to farmers. The cards carry information on the nutrient levels in soils and will allow farmers to take decisions on fertilizer use intelligently.
Conservation Agriculture: The use of initiation programmes for micro-irrigation, organic farming, and natural farming is intended to enhance soil health and reduce dependence on chemical inputs.
The Agriculture Ministry is introducing a new program based on modern agricultural practices to bridge the gap in knowledge between scientists and farmers. The program intends to convey technology and best practices to the farmers effectively.
Low Adoption of Conservation Practices
Despite proven benefits on the soil fronts in countries like Brazil and Argentina, conservation agriculture and zero-tillage techniques remain largely underutilised in India. Experts have said that extension of such practices could play a crucial role in combating soil degradation.
Role of NGOs and Private Sector
Several NGOs and private companies are engaged in regenerative agriculture and natural farming methods. These efforts, however, are confined and scattered and do not have the scales to make a difference across the nation. Scaling up these efforts requires an interplay between the government, private sector, and agricultural communities.
Call for Holistic Action
The conference called for a comprehensive strategy to restore soil health and ensure sustainable agricultural practices. Key stakeholders emphasized the need for innovative solutions, improved awareness among farmers, and increased investment in sustainable agriculture.
India’s agriculture sector, which supports nearly half the population, cannot afford the long-term consequences of unchecked soil degradation. With timely interventions, the country can move towards a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system.
Source- ANI News