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Why land degradation in India has increased?

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Land is a finite and very valuable resource because we are all dependent on it for our needs for example- our food, fiber, fuel, wood, etc.

Land, especially the top land, is classified under renewable resources because it is continuously regenerated by natural processes at a very slow rate. About 200–1000 years are needed for the formation of 1 inch or 2.5 cm of soil, this process depends upon the climate and the type of the soil. But, when the rate of degradation is faster than the rate of renewal, the soil becomes a non-renewable resource.

Land degradation in India is a major issue because about 30% of its geographical area is affected by the degradation of land. According to the current records, nearly 97.85 million hectares of Indian land are degraded. 

Land degradation means a decline in the product quality of a particular area since India mainly depends on agriculture for its national GDP growth. So, it is one of the major problems of India.

States which are badly affected by land degradation in India

The states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, and Karnataka have the highest area of lands undergoing degradation, amounting to 18.4% while all the other states each had less than 2% of degraded lands. Recently, Punjab is also facing the issue of land degradation because of over-irrigation practices by the farmers. 

Land-Degradation-

Land Degradation in India

Why Land Degradation has increased in India?

Land degradation in India has alarmingly increased which has many causes behind it. Some of the main reasons for the degradation of Indian land are :

Excessive Population

India is the second most populated country after China. The current population of India is more than 138 crores which is almost equal to 17.7% of the total world population. Such a large population puts huge pressure on its limited resources and therefore, is responsible for many problems across the country. This population demand for more food, residential areas, and commercial sectors and become one of the main reasons for land degradation.

Deforestation

To meet the necessities of people the practice of deforestation has been increased. According to records, India loses 1.3 million hectares of forests per year. The major causes of deforestation are Shifting Cultivation, Fuel requirements, Raw materials for industrial use, Development projects, Growing food needs, Overgrazing, Forest fires, etc. And deforestation leads to land degradation.

Soil Erosion 

The removal of vegetation cover of the soil is called soil erosion. It can be caused by man-activities, water-induced factors, and by wind-induced factors.  According to a report from 2015, almost 147 million hectares of Indian soil is eroded. From which 94 million hectares are eroded by water, 16 million hectares by acidification, 14 million hectares by flooding, and 9 million hectares by wind erosion. 

Floods and Droughts

  • Floods: The amount of rainfall received by an area depends on the location of that place. Rains are good for crops/ plant growth. But excessive rainfall has many disadvantages such as heavy rainfall leading to a rise in the level of water which sometimes results in floods. These floods cause extensive damage to the quality of soil which further leads to land degradation.
  • Droughts: Droughts mean a prolonged period with abnormally low rainfall, and lead to a shortage of water. 35% of Indian land is drought-prone. Droughts make the soil fully dry, harming the ingredients of soil which are responsible for better plant growth and this condition is known as land degradation.

Over Grazing 

India secures the first rank in the world for cattle population. It has around 197 million cattle. To feed such a large population of cattle we only have 13 million hectares as pasture area. That is why, the practice of grazing has increased steadily. Cattle removes the plants and grass from the top soil which are responsible for binding the soil together. Hence overgrazing leads to land degradation in India.

Soil Pollution

Contamination of soil with sewage sludge, industrial sludge, solid wastes, dump site leaches, agrochemicals, and radioactive substances is called soil pollution. Due to soil Pollution, the nutrients of the soil get depleted and the soil become poisonous for plants and vegetables to grow.

Over irrigation 

Since India is a developing country, the farmers of India are not so well educated. There is no proper way of drainage in their farms lands and mostly to grow healthy crops they do over-irrigation in their fields which leads to waterlogging and consequent salinization and alkalization and further leads to the degradation of land.

Landslides

Various development projects such as hydropower projects, road and railroad construction, building construction, mining projects, etc. are responsible for clearing forested areas. During these activities, huge portions of fragile mountainous areas are destroyed by dynamite and thrown into adjacent valleys and streams. These land masses weaken the already fragile mountain slopes and lead to landslides.

Related Links:

  1. What are the major causes of Land Degradation in Punjab?
  2. Write any two reasons for Land Degradation today
  3. Land Utilization and Land Use Pattern in India
  4. Land Degradation and Conservation
  5. Control of Environmental Degradation

FAQs on Land Degradation in India 

Q 1. What is land degradation in India?

Answer-

Land degradation is caused by a variety of factors, including extreme weather, particularly drought. It is also caused by human activities that pollute or degrade soil and land utility quality.

Q 2. How can we control soil pollution?

Answer-

We can control soil pollution by adapting following measures :

  1. Effluents should be properly treated so that they become harmless before discharging them on the soil.
  2. Solid wastes should be properly collected and then disposed off by an appropriate method.
  3. Biodegradable organic wastes should be used for generation of biogas.
  4. Cattle dung should be used for methane gas generation. Night-soil can also be used in the biogas plant to produce inflammable methane gas.
  5. Use of pesticides and man-made fertilizer should be cut down by the farmers.

Q 3. What are the impacts of land degradation?

Answer-

  1. Economic Impact : Land degradation reduces soil health and threatens agricultural productivity, in turn impacting the livelihood of rural people.
  2. Climate Change : Land degradation badly contributing in the climate change events, which in turn, are causing even greater level of degradation.
  3. Water Scarcity : Soil degradation has led to poor quality of surface and groundwater resources.
  4. Rights of Indigenous People : Unstable land tenure affects the ability of people and communities to combat climate change, which is further threatened by land degradation.
  5. Health Impact : Since, land degradation cut down the productivity of agriculture it would effect the health of the population.

Q 4. What are the consequences of desertification?

Answer –

Desertification has far reaching consequences, which may be outlined as follows :

  • The destruction of natural habitats threatens the existence of many wildlife species.
  • Biodiversity is lost, and genetic diversity is associated with it.
  • The water cycle is affected, affecting precipitation.
  • The problems of soil erosion and reduced soil fertility are increasing.
  • Landslides are common in hills.
  • More Carbon will be added to the atmosphere, increasing global warming.


Last Updated : 02 Aug, 2023
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