India is losing its opportunities to sustain agriculture due to severe soil degradation. Recent studies have shown that less than 5% of Indian soils are supplying enough nitrogen, and less than 20% contain enough organic carbon. Moreover, the fertilizer subsidy system, which too favors urea, has caused nutrient imbalances in the use of excessive nitrogen, and phosphorus, and potassium. The nutrient imbalance reduces agricultural productivity and gets damaging to the environment. A right reforms intervention is needed to restore its health and ensure agricultural sustainability.
| GS Paper | GS Paper III |
| Topics for UPSC Prelims | Soil health deterioration, India’s Agricultural Sustainability, Chemical Fertilizers, Unregulated grazing,2023 Himachal Pradesh floods, Char Dham Highway, Invasive plant species,Soil Health Card Scheme, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Land degradation neutrality, Happy Seeder. |
| Topics for UPSC Mains | Key Issues Leading to Soil Degradation in India, Measures for Effective Soil Health Management in India |
Origin of The Article
This editorial is based on “Nourishing our soil” published in The Financial Express on 09/12/2024. The article discusses the critical challenge of India’s agricultural sustainability, emphasizing the deteriorating soil health.
Relevance for UPSC Aspirants
Understand soil degradation is very important for UPSC students as it is directly related to topics in GS Paper – 3 that involve Conservation and Environmental Impact Assessment. This knowledge enables understanding of agricultural sustainability, which is a very important mains and essay writing requirement, but also aids in prelims for factual understanding.
Why in News?
The topic of soil degradation is important for UPSC aspirants because it directly falls within the purview of GS Paper 3, which focuses on environmental issues, conservation, and agricultural sustainability. Recent discussions on soil health show that the alarming decline in the nutrients of soil threatens the food security and economic stability of India. Questions in previous UPSC exams often included soil conservation schemes like the Soil Health Card and measures for sustainable agriculture, which is why it’s important to understand the present challenges and reforms needed.
Current Status of Soil Degradation in India
India is also facing a severe challenge of soil degradation that affects agricultural productivity and environmental stability. The Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (SAC 2021) reports that during 2018-19, 97.85 million hectares or 29.77% of the geographical area of the country was degraded. This alarming statistic calls for the need for comprehensive soil conservation strategies.
Current Status
The Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (SAC 2021) details the assessment of the country’s soil health. According to this, 97.85 million hectares of land are degraded, constituting 29.77% of the geographical area of India. The data reported for the 2018-19 period shows that land degradation is an urgent issue affecting nearly half of the country.
Geographic Spread and Severity
Soils degradation in India is more acute in the semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions. This affects states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Telangana significantly. For example, over 21 million hectares in Rajasthan is classified as degraded mainly on account of wind erosion in its arid zones. The rising desertification from 83.69 million hectares is now classified as drylands pointing to an environmental crisis that keeps rising.
Key Issues Leading to Soil Degradation in India
Multiple factors drive soil degradation in India, such as unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, urbanization, overgrazing, and industrial activities. These factors, together, contribute to nutrient depletion, soil erosion, and contamination, threatening agricultural productivity and environmental health.
Unsustainable Agricultural Practices
Intensive farming techniques, mainly the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and monocropping, have caused extensive soil degradation. In Punjab and Haryana, the consequences of the Green Revolution have been poor organic carbon levels and increasing soil acidity. The intensive reliance on chemicals has altered nutrient balances in the soil; thus, there is an urgent need to change their agricultural practices to sustainable ones.
Deforestation and Urbanization
Rapid deforestation and urban expansion have significantly contributed to soil erosion and reduced water retention. For instance, the Western Ghats are a global biodiversity hotspot, with 5% of the evergreen forest cover being lost between 2013 and 2023. This has affected local soil fertility.
Overgrazing and Unsustainable Livestock Management
Uncontrolled grazing in states such as Rajasthan and Gujarat results in loss of vegetation and exposure of topsoil to erosion. India’s livestock population is beyond its sustainable carrying capacity, and this increases the problem. Overgrazing denudes plant cover, making soil more vulnerable to erosion and degradation.
Water Mismanagement and Irrigation Practices
Over-extraction of groundwater and inefficient irrigation techniques, including flood irrigation, have caused soil salinization and waterlogging. In Punjab, it is estimated that about 50% of the land is degraded because of these practices, leading to the loss of considerable agricultural productivity. Improving water management with efficient irrigation techniques will revive the soil.
Industrial Pollution and Mining Activities
Industrial activities and mining activities in states like Odisha and Jharkhand result in the discharge of heavy metals and pollutants into the soil, thereby causing very severe contamination. Large areas are rendered unproductive due to toxic waste from coal mining and fly ash dumps. Thus, regulation and remediation strategies are necessary to reduce industrial pollution’s impact on soil health.
Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
Climate change-induced phenomena, such as erratic rainfall, droughts, and floods, worsen soil erosion and nutrient depletion. For example, the 2023 floods in Himachal Pradesh led to the loss of topsoil in agricultural areas.
Shifting Cultivation and Slash-and-Burn Practices
Shifting cultivation, mainly practiced in the northeastern states of Nagaland and Manipur, causes soil fertility loss through organic matter destruction. Slash-and-burn cycles lead to heavy soil erosion and biodiversity loss. The prevention of soil degradation through shifting cultivation can be made possible through sustainable agricultural practices and alternative livelihood options.
Unregulated Construction and Infrastructure Projects
Large-scale construction activities, such as the Char Dham Highway in Uttarakhand, disturb natural drainage patterns and remove topsoil, causing soil instability and landslides. In one stretch of the highway, more than 300 instances of soil instability have been reported. Sustainable construction is the need of the hour to avoid these adverse effects.
Invasive Species
Invasive plant species such as Lantana camara reduce soil fertility because they remove nutrients and alter the native biodiversity. According to research, invasive plants pose a threat to 66% of natural areas, implying that effective management is crucial in maintaining soil health and biodiversity.
Indian Government Initiatives Related to Soil Conservation
The Indian government has undertaken various initiatives to combat the problem of soil degradation; however, these initiatives lack regional applicability and are plagued by the fragmented nature of policies and poor implementation. Effective strengthening of these initiatives is essential for sustainable management of soils.
Fragmented Policy Framework
The soil management policy in India is not cohesive and remains divided into different ministries and schemes, leading to non-cohesive soil management. An example can be drawn from how the Soil Health Card Scheme functions, completely detached from projects such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and MNREGA for land restoration and irrigation respectively.
Inadequate Implementation and Monitoring
While schemes like the Soil Health Card and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana focus on improving soil health, on-ground implementation is marred by huge hurdles. Only 33% of farmers use soil health recommendations, and a lack of accountability and real-time feedback further dilutes the impact. Effective monitoring and farmer education are the need of the hour.
Neglect of Regional Specificity
Generally, a one-size-fits-all approach to soil health misses regional-specific challenges such as the spread of desertification in Rajasthan or salinity in Gujarat. This is where regional requirements for soil management programs take the center stage.
Weak Linkages Between Research and Implementation
Outputs from the research done in the soil by institutions like ICAR and IITs are not effectively translated into field-level solutions. Innovations such as biochar and microbial fertilizers remain underutilized because the government does not support them for commercialization.
Measures for Effective Soil Health Management in India
India needs to adopt sustainable farming practices, improve water management techniques, enforce regulations, and invest in research and development to enhance soil health management. The involvement of the community and integrating climate adaptation strategies is also important.
Promoting Sustainable Farming Practices
Promoting organic farming, crop rotation, and agroforestry increase organic matter and microbial activities and thus improve soil health. Reaching out of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana with linking with Soil Health Card Scheme would help its better implementation through real-time monitoring.
Promoting Wadi System
The Wadi system, with its combination of agriculture, horticulture, and forestry, supports sustainable farming through preventing erosion, conserving water, and enhancing biodiversity. Socio-economic empowerment is also supported by this system, making it a good indicator for effective soil health management.
Improving Water Management Techniques
Adoption of micro-irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler irrigation helps prevent waterlogging and salinization, besides saving water. Enhancement of coverage of schemes such as PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, along with their integration with precision agriculture, would enhance the water-soil balance.
Rehabilitating Degraded Lands
Afforestation, grassland restoration, and wetland revival can considerably reduce soil erosion through land reclamation. The combination of the National Afforestation Programme with community-led initiatives and MGNREGA will augment ecological recovery and rural development.
Promoting Conservation Agriculture
Zero tillage, mulching, and cover cropping increase the organic carbon in soils through conservation agriculture practices. This increases the soil’s structure, and its use in other high-yielding zones can be extended through PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for better and sustainable impact.
Adopting Bioremediation for Contaminated Soils
The use of microbes and plants may be beneficial in bioremediation of soils heavily polluted with industrial effluents and heavy metals. The technique was successfully piloted in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, and should now be multiplied for revitalization of contaminated farmlands in India.
Expanding Soil Health Card Utility
SHCS can focus on farmer education so that the recommendations are used at the farmer’s doorstep. The SHC data linkage with digital platforms for developing real-time advisory services linked to local Krishi Vigyan Kendras can reach grass-root levels.
Creating Coastal Soil Management Plans
Mangrove afforestation and saline-resistant crops can reduce salinity intrusion in coastal regions through comprehensive soil management plans. Soil health should be given equal importance to habitat protection in initiatives like the National Coastal Mission.
Investing in Research and Development
R&D in soil-friendly technologies, such as bio-fertilizers and efficient soil testing kits, can change the game of soil management. Innovative affordable solutions for better soil health by institutes like ICAR collaborating with startups will be feasible.
Promoting Urban Composting and Circular Economy
Municipal composting facility projects can convert urban organic waste into high-quality manure, reducing dependency upon chemical fertilizers. Incentivizing such projects in terms of GST rebates on the sale of compost increases the adoption and supports sustainable soil management.
Strengthening Natural Farming Initiatives
Natural farming techniques, such as Subhash Palekar’s Natural Farming model, minimize dependency on external inputs while improving the biodiversity of soil. These initiatives have better outreach and take up with the local Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Developing Digital Soil Health Mapping
National-level digital database for mapping soil health can track degradations and suggest location-specific intervention. Periodic mapping of soil using ISRO’s Earth Observation Satellites can yield actionable insights for precision soil management.
Tackling Microplastic Contamination
Strict bans on single-use plastics must extend to better management of agricultural plastics. Biodegradable alternatives and recycling systems would reduce microplastic contamination in the soil and support sustainable agriculture.
Strengthening Community Participation
Empowerment of local self-help groups and Panchayati Raj institutions in soil conservation would ensure more effective outreach and implementation. Widescale expansion of community-led models can also increase ownership and success rates in soil health initiatives.
Integrating Climate Adaptation with Soil Conservation
Combining climate adaptation strategies such as afforestation with soil health programs builds up resilience against climate-induced degradation. Integrating National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change projects with watershed development schemes can create effective synergies.
PESTEL Analysis
| Political: The Indian government has implemented various initiatives like the Soil Health Card Scheme and the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture to combat soil degradation. However, fragmented policies, inadequate coordination, and lack of regional specificity have hindered their effectiveness. The government’s failure to integrate these initiatives properly has created gaps in soil conservation efforts. Economic: Soil degradation leads to reduced agricultural productivity, which directly affects India’s economy, particularly in rural areas. The over-reliance on chemical fertilizers and the decline in soil fertility result in diminishing returns for farmers, affecting their income. The economic burden of land degradation is significant, with the need for investment in sustainable practices and land rehabilitation. Social: Soil degradation impacts food security and the livelihoods of millions of farmers, especially in rural communities. The lack of awareness about sustainable practices among farmers, despite the existence of programs like the Soil Health Card Scheme, remains a significant challenge. Education and community involvement in soil conservation are critical for the success of these initiatives. Technological: Technological solutions such as soil health mapping, bioremediation, and digital tools for monitoring soil health can aid in managing soil degradation. However, there is a need for further research and investment in soil-friendly technologies. Environmental: Soil degradation has a significant impact on the environment, contributing to erosion, loss of biodiversity, and pollution. Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides, deforestation, and water mismanagement exacerbate soil degradation. Legal: The existing legal framework for soil conservation is weak, with inadequate enforcement of policies and regulations. Issues like unregulated sand mining, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, and unplanned urbanization disrupt soil health. |
Conclusion
The integrated, sustainable farming practices, effective water management, and targeted conservation efforts are necessary to address soil degradation for India’s agricultural future. Soil health is crucial for India’s agricultural economy, ensuring long-term agricultural productivity, food security, and environmental sustainability.
| UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)MainsQ. Soil health plays a crucial role in sustainable agricultural practices. Discuss the major causes of soil degradation in India and the steps that can be taken to improve soil health and ensure agricultural sustainability. (UPSC Mains 2021, GS Paper III) Q. Soil health deterioration in India poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. Analyze the key factors contributing to soil degradation in India, focusing on the overuse of chemical fertilizers, unregulated grazing, and invasive plant species. How can systemic reforms in fertilizer use and land management address these issues? |
