Natural Resource Management

(Programme and Achievements)

1. Introduction:

Land serves as storage for water and nutrients required for plants and other living
micro-macro-organisms. The demand for food, energy and other human requirements
depends upon the preservation and improvement of the productivity of lands, which is
not only inelastic but also heterogeneous in different parts and regions of the country
with a definite set up, capabilities, suitabilities for different land resources. Conservation
of land resources can promote sound land use to match with the land capabilities or
suitabilities and to initiate correct land resources, development/suitability in the country.
The increasing human and animal population has reduced the availability of land over
the decades. The per capita availability of land has declined from 0.89 hectare in 1951
to 0.27 hectare in 2011 and per capita availability of agricultural land has also reduced
from 0.48 hectare to 0.15 hectare during this period. Crop production is subjected to
considerable instability from year to year due to its dependence on rainfall, which is
slightly erratic and variant in space and time.

Problems of land degradation are prevalent in many forms throughout the

country. In most cases, a combination of such problem exists. In absence of
comprehensive and periodic scientific surveys, estimates have been made on the basis
of localized surveys and studies. Recently, (2010) National Bureau of Soil Survey and
Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP), Nagpur of ICAR & National Rainfed Area Authority
(NARA) have reconciled data on land degradation and reported that out of total
geographical area of 328.73 million hectares (m.ha), about 120.40 m.ha (37%) is
affected by various kind of land degradation. This includes water and wind erosion
(94.87 m.ha), water logging (0.91 m.ha), soil alkalinity/sodicity (3.71 m.ha), soil acidity
(17.93 m.ha), soil salinity (2.73 m.ha) and mining and industrial waste (0.26 m.ha).
About 800 has of arable land are being lost annually due to ingress of ravines. There
are specific problems of land degradation due to open-cast mining operations, using
good productive land for brick kilns, coastal erosion and seawater ingress, excessive
erosion and landslides in the crumbling hill areas.
2. Aims and Objectives:-

Soil formation and its erosion is a natural phenomena occurring simultaneously.

Frequent droughts, floods and climatic variabilities also have an impact on soil fertility
and land degradation, thereby, affecting foodgrain production across the country.
With a view to prevent soil erosion, land degradation and to sustain agricultural
production, various programmes; namely, Soil Conservation in Catchments of River
Valley Project and Flood Prone River (RVP & FPR) and Reclamation and Development
of Alkali & Acid Soils (RADAS) are being implemented across the country. The aims
and objectives of these schemes/ programmes are as under:-

o Implementation of location specific soil & water conservation programmes

for prevention of soil erosion & land degradation and facilitating sustainable
agricultural production;
o Formulation of strategies, policies and programmes to address issues
relating to “sustainable agriculture” in the context of risks associated with
climate change and suggesting appropriate adaptation measures to combat
adverse impact of climate change on agricultural production and natural
resources;
o Reclamation and development of lands affected by alkalinity and acidity;
o Providing scientific database on soil and land uses for facilitating planning
and implementation of various interventions for development of degraded
lands;
o Prevention of runoff and premature siltation of reservoirs for sustaining
irrigation potential and enhancing water storage capacity of reservoirs
across the country. Development of human resources through training and
capacity building in areas of soil and water conservation.

3. Strategies

Main strategies of Natural Resource Management Programmes

includes:-

a) adoption of integrated approach for the treatment of degraded area as

cluster and contiguous manner;
 b) integration of sectoral measures for comprehensive development
and maintenance of ecology of the areas;
c) consolidation of treatment efforts through projectised approach with
proper choice of treatment measures,
d) emphasis on sustainability of treatment measures to address various
issues relating to climate change;,
e) construction of strategically located structures, along drainage line
treatment measures to check/reduce velocity of runoff and in-situ
conservation of natural resources; and
f) multi-disciplinary approach involving various line departments like
Agriculture, Forests, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Minor Irrigation
etc. at the district and project level while developing programme
measures and implementation etc.

4. Land Resource Management Programmes (LRMP):

The details of Central Sector Scheme and Centrally Sponsored Programmes relating
to Land Resource Management being supervised by NRM Division are:-

(A) Central Sector Schemes:

(a) Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI) : SLUSI was established in
1958 under DAC for providing scientific input on soil and land use survey to policy
makers, planners and implementing agencies for various agriculture
developmental programmes. The headquarter of SLUSI is located at Indian
Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Campus, New Delhi and it has seven
regional centers at Noida, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad
and Ranchi. In 1992, SLUSI had established a Remote Sensing Center (RSC) for
leveraging application of advanced technologies in soil survey programme.
Mandate of SLUSI is to provide database on soil and land characteristics to
various states, user departments and implementing agencies for planning and
implementation of developmental programmes relating to soil and water
conservation and natural resource management. Major activities of SLUSI are -
 — Rapid Reconnaissance Survey (RRS) of the catchments of River Valley
Projects and Flood Prone Rivers on 1:50K scale & its delineation;

— Detailed Soil Survey (DSS) of “Very High” and “High” priority areas to
provide detailed soil data base for planning and execution of soil
conservation measures as well as for scientific land use planning using
large scale base map (1:4K to 12.5K scale);

— District-wise Soil Resource Mapping (SRM) on 1:50K scale to create

repository of soil data base in the country;

— Development of Digital Spatial Data Base on Hydrologic Units, Soil and

Land information using Geographic Information System (GIS), Rational
Data Base Management System (RDBMS) for GIS based Web Server;

— Organization of short training courses on “Soil and Land Resource Data

Base for planning and development of degraded lands;

— Development of State-wise Micro-Watershed Atlas of India on 1:50K scale;

— Creation of Platform Free State-wise Micro Watershed Atlas for

dissemination of information relating to optimum/scientific use of land as
per land capability;

— Capacity building of State User Departments such as agriculture, soil

conservation, soil survey, forestry and irrigation regarding use of scientific
database for planning implementation and monitoring of programmes; and

— State Level Consultancy Projects on Soil Mapping.

SLUSI had been conducting Rapid Reconnaissance Survey (RRS), DSS,

SRM and also designed/upgraded its website (www.slusi.dacnet.nic.in)
incorporating abstract information of 328 RRS, 1004 DSS, 65 Land Degradation
Mapping (LDM) and 30 SRM reports thus providing an easy access to end users.
SLUSI has prepared and uploaded Platform Free Micro Watershed Atlas (MWA) of
Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Tripura
and Uttarakhand. Micro Watershed Atlas aims at identifying and imparting each
micro watershed in the country with a distinct spatial extent and Unique National
Code. The Micro Watershed Atlas of India has been designed in such a way so as
to enable a user to locate and identify a micro watershed falling in any
district/state and act as an innovative medium for easier dissemination of
information on a watershed approach basis. Digital version of Watershed Atlas of
India (WAI)’, which has been also released.

(B) Centrally Sponsored Programme

(a) Soil Conservation in the Catchments of River Valley Project and Flood
Prone River (RVP and FPR): This was launched in Third Five Year Plan
(1961-62) and from November, 2000 onwards is being implemented
through Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA) Scheme in 60 selected
inter-state catchments spread over all States (except Goa). Objectives of
this programme are -

— Prevention of land degradation by adopting a multi-disciplinary

integrated approach for in-situ soil & water conservation;

— Improvement of land capability and moisture regime of degraded

areas;

— Promotion of land uses to match land capability; and

— Prevention of soil loss from catchments to reduce siltation of

multipurpose reservoirs and enhancing in-situ moisture conservation
and surface rainwater storages in catchments to reduce flood peaks
and volume of runoff.

Under RVP and FPR programme, various soil and water

conservation measures, namely, contour vegetative hedges,
contour/graded bunding, horticulture plantation, contour/staggered
trenching, sowing and plantation, silvi-pasture development, pasture
development, afforestation, farm ponds, percolation tanks, drainage line
treatment (earthen loose boulders, water harvesting structure, check bund,
drop spill-way, sediment detention structure, etc.) are implemented. With
a view to assess impact of soil and water conservation measures, system
of continuous monitoring of rainfall, runoff and sediment parameters prior
 to, during and after treatment is undertaken by establishing Sediment
Monitoring Station (SMS) at outlet of the stream.

Since inception and upto end of XI Plan (March, 2012), an area of

77.60 lakh ha has been treated at an expenditure of Rs.3430.68 crore
under this programme against priority area of 301.50 lakh ha needing
urgent treatment.

(b) Reclamation and Development of Alkali and Acid Soils (RADAS): This
programme was launched in the 7th Five Year Plan (1985-86) and was
restructured during 11th Plan for development of alkali and acid Soils.
Presently this programme is being implemented through Macro
Management of Agriculture (MMA) Scheme in seven states viz. Arunachal
Pradesh, Mizoram, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
RADAS aims at improving physical conditions and productivity status of
alkali and acid soils for restoring optimum crop production. Major
components permissible under this programme are on farm development
viz. land leveling, bunding, community drainage systems, application of soil
amendments, organic manures, crop/horticultural/fuel wood production,
etc. Since inception and upto end of XI Plan (March, 2012), 8.85 lakh ha
has been developed at an expenditure of Rs.183.48 crore. Central flow
of funds for RVP & FPR and RADAS programmes from MMA
Schemes has been discontinued from April, 2013. States are now
taking these interventions under RKVY which is States driven
scheme.

(C) Externally Aided Projects:

(a) Sodic Land Reclamation & Development Project with World Bank
Assistance: Project proposal on “Uttar Pradesh Land Reclamation and
Development Project” at an estimated cost of Rs.2000 crore for
reclamation and development of 3.10 lakh ha area was proposed for
seeking financial assistance from World Bank. Technical and Financial
agreement was signed in June, 2009 for development of 1.35 lakh ha of
 degraded land comprising 1.30 lakh ha of Sodic lands and 5000 ha of
Ravine lands at an estimated cost of Rs.1224 crore in 6 years.

(b) Crop Diversification in Himachal Pradesh with Japan International

Cooperation Agency (JICA): Project for implementation of various
interventions for Crop Diversification in Himachal Pradesh with JICA
assistance at an estimated cost of Rs.321 crore for 7 years was signed
on 1st October, 2010. After detailed deliberations and visit of experts to
identified districts of Himachal Pradesh, Overseas Development
Assistance (ODA) agreement was signed on 17th February, 2011 and
agreed interventions are being undertaken in 5 selected districts
namely; Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Mandi and Unna.

(D) National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA):- NMSA is

one of the eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change
(NAPCC). It seeks to address issues regarding ‘Sustainable Agriculture’ in the
context of risks associated with climate change by devising appropriate adaptation
and mitigation strategies for ensuring food security, enhancing livelihood
opportunities and contributing to economic stability at the national level. This
mission acknowledges that the risks to Indian Agriculture sector due to climatic
variabilities and extreme events would be felt at the levels of crop or livestock,
farm or cropping system and the food system. Further, adverse impacts on
agricultural production are likely to be severe in the absence of appropriate
adaptation and mitigation measures with far reaching consequences in terms of
shortages of food articles and rising prices thereby endangering the food and
livelihood security across the country.

NMSA identifies ten key dimensions for promoting sustainable agricultural

practices, which will be operationalised by implementing a Programme of Action
(POA) that covers both adaptation and mitigation measures through four
functional areas, viz. Research and Development; Technologies, products and
practices; Infrastructure; and Capacity building. While recognizing the role of
modern technologies and research in promoting the sustainability of agricultural
production, the Mission also emphasizes on the need to harness traditional
knowledge and agricultural heritage for in-situ conservation of genetic resources.
Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change (PMCCC) has accorded in-principle
approval to NMSA Mission Document.

POA will be operationalised by mainstreaming adaptation and mitigation

strategies, during XII Plan, in ongoing research and development programmes
and in flagship schemes including Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National
Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI), National
Food Security Mission (NFSM) etc. through a process of selective up-scaling and
course correction measures. This would be further supplemented by introduction
of new programmatic interventions and by seeking convergence with other
National Missions and collaborations with stakeholders for institutionalizing
linkages for addressing cross-sectoral issues.

5. Achievements:
With a view to prevent soil erosion, land degradation and to improve
productivity of lands NRM Division is implementing various Degraded Land
Development Programmes (DLDP) namely; Soil Conservation in Catchments of
River Valley Project and Flood Prone River (RVP & FPR) and Reclamation and
Development of Alkali & Acid Soils (RADAS) across the country.

Under these programmes, various soil and water conservation measures,

namely; contour vegetative hedges, contour/graded bunding, horticulture
plantation, contour/staggered trenching, sowing and plantation, silvi-pasture
development, pasture development, afforestation, farm ponds, percolation
tanks, drainage line treatment (earthen loose boulders, water harvesting
structure, check bund, drop spill-way, sediment detention structure, etc.) are
implemented. Since inception upto 2011-12 about 225.14 lakh hectare areas
have been developed at an expenditure of Rs.12792.26 crore under various
programme of DAC including Watershed Development Fund, Watershed
Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas (WDPSCA) and Externally
Aided Projects.
6. Impact of Programme Implementation:
Evaluation studies of catchments treated under RVP & FPR programme has
been conducted by outside agencies namely; Administrative Staff Collage of India
(ASCI) Hyderabad, Agriculture Finance Consultant (AFC) Bombay, National Remote
Sensing Agency, Hyderabad and Water & Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS),
New Delhi. Studies have reported that watershed interventions are effective in
prevention of soil erosion, land degradation and conservation of rain water as per
details given below:-
(a) Increase in Agricultural yield - Increase in yield of agricultural crops
varies from 2.7 to 76% in watersheds treated under this programme;
(b) Increase in Cropping Intensity - Cropping intensity has increased in the
range of 85% to 115% in Matatila, Nizamsagar & Ukai catchments;
(c) Sediment Production Rate (SPR) -SPR has reduced from 17% to 94% in
Matatila, Nizamsagar & Ukai catchments;
(d) Peak Rate of Runoff - Reduction in runoff peak and volume from 46.6 to
1.6% in watersheds of Sahibi catchment.
(e) Ground Water Recharge – Water table of selected wells in treated
watersheds has increased ranging 1.0 to 2.5 meters.
(f) Employment Generation – Additional employment in the range of 2.0 to
7.9 lakh man-days were generated annually, by implementation of watershed
interventions in on-going as well as treated watersheds.

7. Overall Impact on land uses:

Under various development programmes of Government of India, about 81.70
million hectare area has been developed since inception upto 2011-12, which
includes area of about 22.51 million hectare developed under various programmes of
Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC). Evaluation
Studies have revealed that watershed interventions adopted under NRM programmes
have been found effective in prevention of soil erosion, land degradation and
improving productivity of lands, besides maintaining balance in various types of land
uses. Besides, its impact on overall land uses over years can be seen in following
ways:-
(a) Net area sown has slightly increased from 140.00 million hectare (1980-81) to
140.02 million hectare (2009-10);
(b) Area under non-agricultural uses has increased from 19.66 million hectare
(1980-81) to 26.17 million hectare (2009-10) i.e. an increase of about 6.51
million hectare;
(c) Despite increase in area of about 6.51 million hectare in non-agricultural
uses, net area sown has more or less remained same during the same period;
(d) As per Wastelands Atlas of India of Ministry of Rural Development,
Department of Land Resources, Government of India, the total extent of
wastelands has been reduced from 63.97 million hectare to 55.27 million
hectare;
(e) Area under forest has increased by about 2.25 million hectare in the said
period.

(f) Despite marginal decline in extent of agricultural land, foodgrain production

is increasing due to various technological interventions.

(g) Part of degraded lands developed under NRM programmes are put to
cultivation, leading to not sown area remaining largely unchanged (140.00
million ha) in last two decades.