Lok Sabha Question No. 860 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Loss of Soil Fertility
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 860

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7 th  FEBRUARY, 2023

## LOSS OF SOIL FERTILITY

860.   SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that due to top layer of soil degradation the loss of soil fertility has gone up to 40 per cent;
- (b) if so, whether it is also true that under the UN convention one billion hectares of degraded soil is to be restored by 2030;
- (c) if so, the plans being implemented by the Government to restore degraded land up to that year; and
- (d) the steps taken or being taken by the Government for upgradation of land so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान काण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR )

- (a) & (b): As per Global land outlook second edition report of United Nations Convention to  Combat  Desertification  (UNCCD),  the  global  extent  of  land  degradation  is  estimated  at between 20-40% of the total land area, directly affecting nearly half of the working population and spanningthe world's croplands, drylands, wetlands, forest and grasslands. 15 th  Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UNCCD held during 9-20 May, 2022 agreed to  resort  one  billion  hectares  of  degraded  land  by  2030  through  improved  data  collection, monitoring and reporting.
- (c) & (d) The  Government has launched several  schemes/  programmes which include inter-alia  National  Afforestation  Program,  Green  India  Mission,  Watershed  Development Component  of  Pradhan  Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana  (PMKSY)  which  contribute  to  the target  of  restoration  of  26  million  hectares  of  degraded  land  and  achievement  of  land degradation neutrality with focus on sustainable and optimum utilization of land resources.

The Watershed Development Component (WDC) of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana was launched in 2015. It contributes towards restoration of land through its various interventions  which  include  inter-alia  building  of  water  harvesting  structures,  area  brought under protection irrigation, area brought under plantation (afforestation/ horticulture etc.).

Space  Application  Centre  (SAC),  Ahmedabad  released  the  latest  version  of  the 'Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India' on 17 June 2021. The Government has undertaken  a  number  of  measures  to  combat  land  degradation  and  desertification  in  the country. These are as follows:

- i. A  Desertification  and  Land  Degradation  Atlas  has  been  prepared  by  SAC.  It provides  state-wise  area  of  degradation  land.  It  would  help  in  planning  and implementation  of  schemes  aimed  at  restoration  of  land  by  providing  important data and technical inputs.
- ii. An online  portal  has  been  developed  with  the  help  of  Space  Application  Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad for visualization of degraded area of land with the processes causing degradation.
- iii. A  centre  of  Excellence  has  been  envisaged  at  the  Indian  Council  for  Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Dehradun for enhanced SouthSouth Cooperation. It aims at knowledge sharing, promotion of best practices, sharing of India's experiences with cost-effective and sustainable land management strategies, developing ideas for transformative projects and programs and capacity building.

India has committed to achieve land degradation neutrality status by 2030. National Afforestation  &  Eco  Development  Board  (NAEB),  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forests  and Climate  Change  is  implementing  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  'National  Afforestation Programme  (NAP)'  for  regeneration  of  degraded  forests  and  adjoining  areas  through people's  participation.  The  scheme  implemented  through  a  decentralized  mechanism  of State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) at State Level, Forest Development agency (FDA) at Forest Division level and Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMCs) at Village level. The  scheme  is  demand  driven  and  afforestation  area  is  sanctioned  on  the  basis  of  past performance, potential degraded forest land available for eco-restoration and availability of budget. National Mission for Green India (GIM) aims at protecting, restoring and enhancing India's  forest  cover  by  means  of  plantation  activities  in  forest  and  non-forest  areas.  GIM activities  were  started  in  the  FY  2015-16. Demand driven  action oriented  research  work  is carried out through projects under National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS). Certain projects  include  the  development  of  models  for  land  reclamation,  soil  conservation  and watershed management, etc.

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