Lok Sabha Question No. 2788 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-13
Subject: Soil and Water Resources for Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU, NARAMALLI SIVAPRASAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2788

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH   MARCH, 2018

## SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES FOR AGRICULTURE

2788.  SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU: DR. NARAMALLI SIVA PRASAD:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been a comprehensive assessment of the state of natural resources that are necessary for agriculture and farm livelihoods; and
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  status  of  the  soil  and  water  resources  related  to agriculture and the programmes to promote soil restoration and water conservation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) & (b)   As per available estimates of  Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2016, agricultural land is about  181.78  million hectare   across the country. Details of various classes of land resources of  India are at  Annexure.    Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR-2010) indicates that around 120.4 million hectare of total geographical area of the country is affected by various kinds of land degradation comprising of water erosion (82.6 million hectare), wind erosion (12.0 million ha), chemical degradation (24.8 million ha) and physical degradation (1.0 million ha).

Estimates available in State of Indian Agriculture 2015-16 indicates that annual precipitation in India is about 4000 BCM (billion cubic meters) out of which 690 BCM is utilizable surface water resource  whereas  431  BCM    utilizable  water  resources  is  from  ground  water.    Due  to  various major,  medium  and  minor  irrigation  projects,  net  irrigated  area  is  about  68.10  million  hectare (2013-14) out of 140.71 million hectare of net area sown.

Aiming  at  soil  and  water  conservation,  a  dedicated  scheme  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)  has been launched during 2015-16.   PMKSY has three components namely;  (i)  PMKSY-  Har  Khet  Ko  Pani,  (ii)  PMKSY-  Per  Drop  More  Crop  and  (iii)  PMKSYWatershed Development.    PMKSY- Har Khet Ko Pani and PMKSY- Per Drop More Crop   focus on creating sources for assured irrigation and creating protective irrigation  through micro irrigation and drought proofing structures, whereas PMKSY-Watershed Development aims at prevention of soil erosion, regeneration of natural vegetation, rain water harvesting and recharging of the ground water table.    For completion of  99 major and medium irrigation projects having potential of 76.03 lakh ha in phases by Dec., 2019, including command area development,  a Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) has been created in NABARD.  Ministry  of Agriculture  and Farmers  Welfare has launched  Reclamation  of  Problem  Soils (RPS)  as  a sub-scheme  of  Rashtriya Krishi  Vikas Yojana  (RKVY)   during    2016-17    for      development  of    problem  soils    (Alkalinity,  Salinity  and Acidity)  on  pilot    basis  in  15    States    having    higher  extent  of    problem    soil    area.  The    main objective  of  the  scheme is  to  reclaim  problem  soils  and to  bring such land  under   cultivation so that  further  expansion  of problem area is  prevented  and    such  land  is  put to  continuous cultivation.

In  addition  to  above,  Government is  also  providing  funds  for  soil  and  water  conservation under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).  Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is  also promoting Soil Health Cards for  giving information to farmers  on  nutrient  status  of  their  soil  along  with  recommendations  on  appropriate  dosage  of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.

## Status of Land Resources of India

(Area in million ha.)

| Category                                                                        | 2013-14   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|
| Geographical Area                                                               | 328.73    |
| A) Forest                                                                       | 71.83     |
| B) Area Not Available for Cultivation                                           |           |
| (i) area under non agricultural uses                                            | 26.91     |
| (ii) barren & un-culturable land                                                | 16.95     |
| Total B                                                                         | 43.86     |
| C) Other uncultivable land excluding fallow land                                |           |
| (i) Permanent pasture & other grazing land                                      | 10.26     |
| (ii) Land under miscellaneous tree crops & groves not included in net area sown | 3.18      |
| (iii)Culturable waste land                                                      | 12.39     |
| Total C                                                                         | 25.83     |
| D) Fallow Lands                                                                 |           |
| (i) Fallow land other than current fallows                                      | 11.31     |
| (ii) Current Fallows                                                            | 14.49     |
| Total D                                                                         | 25.80     |
| E) Net area sown                                                                | 140.71    |
| Agricultural Land - C(ii)+ C(iii)+ D(i)+D(ii)+E                                 | 181.78    |

(Source:   Agricultural Statistics at a Glance  - 2016 )

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## ANNEXURE