Reclamation of Salt-Affected Soils: Socioeconomic Impact Assessment

Abstract

Salt-induced land degradation is adversely affecting the productivity of crop land with far-reaching and undesirable socioeconomic consequences to millions of people living in the salt-affected regions of India. The problems of soil salinity, alkalinity, waterlogging, and poor-quality waters are likely to increase in future due to planned expansion in irrigated area and non-judicious use of natural resources to meet food, fodder, fiber, and timber demand of the burgeoning human and livestock populations. Currently, India is losing annually around 17 million Mg of farm production valued at ₹230 billion from salt-affected soils. The severity of soil degradation problem received the attention of researchers, policy makers, and development agencies. Economically viable technologies are available to ameliorate the salt-affected soils. Over the past few decades, with the support of agricultural scientists, World Bank, European Union, and other developmental agencies, India has reclaimed 2.08 Mha salt-affected lands, which contributed enormous socioeconomic benefits and livelihood security to millions of resource-poor farmers living in the salt-affected regions.