VILLAGE PLANNING AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES FOR RURAL

DEVELOPMENT BY USE OF SOIL
CONSERVATION AND WASTE LAND
DEVELOPMENT

PRESENTED BY:
MANJUNATH (MP120013)
VIJAY M (MP120028)
 Soil Conservation

• Soil is the most important resource on which agriculture is based. Proper management of
this valuable resource is vital to sustain long-term agricultural productivity.
Unfortunately, soil erosion is usually only identified as a problem when channels are cut
through fields that are so deep they restrict cultivation practices. In fact, soil erosion
occurs at unsustainable levels when small rills are recognizable in a field.
• Soil loss is not only a problem for the farmer, with the loss of organic matter and fertility,
it is also an environmental problem. Sediment entering streams can destroy fish habitat
and water quality especially when soil particles contain contaminants such as pesticides
or nutrients.
 Soil conservation
Major Programmes
1. Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Yojana (RKVY)
2. Soil and Water Conservation in the Catchment of River Kopili. ...
3. Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) ...
4. Watershed Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas (WDPSCA)
The scheme was implemented from the year 1995-96 onwards.
1. Watershed Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas (WDPSCA): The
scheme was implemented from the year 1995-96 onwards. It is a 100% Central
assistance through the Ministry of Agriculture & Co-operation, Government of India.
The main thrust of the project is as follows:
• Protect hill slopes of jhum areas through soil and water conservation measures on a
watershed basis.
• Encourage and assist jhummia families to develop jhum land for productive uses with
improved cultivation and suitable package of practices leading to settled cultivation.
• Improved socio-economic status of jhummia families through household/land-based
activities.
• Mitigate ill effects of shifting cultivation by introducing appropriate land use as per
land capacity and improved technologies.
• During 2012-13, Government of India did not release any fund for the scheme.
2. Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
• This is a Central assistance scheme sponsored by the Ministry of Water Resources. It is in the
form of central grant (90 % of the project cost) and the balance cost of the project (10%) as
the State’s share which is to be arranged by the state government from its own resources. The
main thrust of the programme is to increase the area under irrigation thereby increasing the
productivity of the area and improving the socio-economic condition of the people.
• During 2011-12, a total of 32 projects sanctioned during 2009-10 have been completed and
no new projects were sanctioned by the Government of India during the year 2012-13.
3. NABARD Loan- Soil & Water Conservation Scheme under RIDF
• The Department started implementing Scheme under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund
(RIDF) - NABARD Loan from the year 2000-2001 onwards. The basic objective of the
scheme is to enhance the productivity of agriculture and its allied activities and in small river
valleys, thereby improving the socio-economic set up of the people in the rural areas. Besides
these, the scheme also envisages to promote sustainable development through conservation
and management of soil and water.
4. Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Yojana (RKVY)
• The area of focus of this programme is for the development of Rainfed Farming Systems
in and outside watershed areas as also integrated development of watershed areas,
wastelands, river valleys and for activities relating to enhancement of crop production
and popularization of micro-irrigation systems. The thrust area is to protect the loss of
topsoil, improving soil fertility, enhancing crop production, land and water productivity
of watershed areas comprising of wastelands, river valleys and the eco-system as a
whole. The programme is implemented with the Department of Agriculture as the Nodal
Agency.
 Soil conservation practices
These practices include:
1. Crop rotation.
2. Reduced tillage.
3. Mulching.
4. Cover cropping and cross-slope farming.
 Crop Rotation

• It is a tool that enables farmers to increase soil organic matter content, soil structure and rooting depth. This is
accomplished by growing secondary crops which enhance soil health.
• Root crops are particularly destructive to soil structure because of the extensive shattering of soil aggregates during
seedbed preparation and harvest. For this reason, root crops should not be grown more than once every three years.
 Cover Cropping and Mulching

• Cover Cropping and Mulching are effective at reducing soil erosion by leaving a cover over the soil
which reduces soil displacement associated with the impact of raindrops hitting soil particles. They also
reduce the volume and velocity of runoff over the soil.
• Mulching consists of applying organic material over the exposed soil. Hay makes the best mulch, but it
is important to ensure that the hay is harvested before weeds are mature. Straw can also be used.
 Conservation Tillage

• Conservation Tillage is field operations aimed at preserving soil aggregates, organic matter
and surface residue from previous crops.
• Residue management is a facet of conservation tillage that is designed to leave crop residue
on the soil surface to prevent erosion. The amount of residue on the soil surface depends on
the amount of residue left from the previous crop and the tillage performed.
 Cross-Slope Farming

• Cross slope farming is the most effective method to control large volumes of runoff that flow over a
long field. Other soil conservation practices can be effectively integrated with cross slope farming.
• Farming across the slope requires fields to be wide enough to efficiently farm and may require
equipment modification to avoid side hill slippage on steep slopes.
 Buffer strips

• Buffer strips are vegetative areas that separate field boundaries from
watercourses. These buffer strips are effective at stabilizing stream banks with
their extensive root system. They are also efficient at preventing soil and
contaminants from entering watercourses by providing an area for field runoff to
collect. These areas allow soil particles to settle out of the runoff water. A proper
buffer strip should consist of at least 3 m of natural vegetation and, if the field is
row cropped, an additional 2 m wide grassed buffer strip should be left.
• Stream banks in high flow watercourses will need additional protection from
erosion. These areas require the placement of large rock along the banks. A
permit from the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour is required
for any construction work along a watercourse.
 WASTE LAND
DEVELOPMENT
What is a wasteland???
NWDB Definition-degraded land which can be brought under
vegetative cover with reasonable effort and which is currently
under utilized and land which is deteriorating for lack of
appropriate water and soil management or on account of natural
causes

A) which are eco logically unstable

B) Whose top soil has been nearly completely lost
C) which have developed toxicity in root zones for growth of most
plants, both annual crop and trees.
THE WASTELAND ISSUE :
Agriculture continues to be the main economic activity in rural areas of the
developing world in spite of a steady diversification of their economic base
during the preceding decades. Agriculture will continue to dominate rural
economy of these areas for a long time to come. It is natural, therefore, that
the availability of land to, and its use pattern in, agriculture would remain
issues of extreme importance to policy planners, especially because unlike
other factors of production, land is not only a highly scarce but is also a
non-reproducible means of production.

CAUSES OF LAND DEGRADATION

OVER CULTIVATION
DEFORESTATION
OVER GRAZING
IMPROPER IRRIGATION PRACTICES
POLICIES/SCHEMES FOR WASTELAND DEVELOPMENT
The concern for wasteland development is discernible, in varying form and content, in the long list of policies and
programmes pursued in India for well over three decades now. From the constitution of the Wasteland Survey and
Reclamation Committee way back in June 1959 to the National Land-use and Wastelands Development Council in
May 1985, and to the ongoing efforts of the Wasteland Development Department of the Ministry of Rural
Development, it is a long chain of ideas and gestures that has engaged the attention of policy makers in India besides
direct and indirect involvement of NGOs and other agencies at home and abroad

SCHEMES SO FAR.. GRANTS IN AID TO NGOS

POLICIES SO FAR.. GOVT. OF INDIA land use
DECENTRALISED PEOPLE’S NURSERIES
policy(1983)
SILVIPASTURE FARM
SEED DEVELOPMENT
National Land Resources Conservation and
AREA ORIENTED FUELWOOD & FODDER PROJECT
Development Commission (NLRCDC)
ARIEL SEDING PROG.
National Land Board (NLB)
PLANTATION OF MINOR FOREST PRODUCE
National Land Use and Wastelands Development
MARGIN MONEY SCHEME
council (NLWC)
RURAL EMPLOYMENT SCHEME
The National wasteland Development Board (NWDB)
IWDP (Integrated wasteland development Project)
 CASE STUDY:
An Exploratory Study on Wasteland Development through
Watershed Development Programmes in Tamil Nadu
Introduction and Background
 A number of programmes for development of wastelands and rainfed lands with watershed approach are proposed under
implementation in the state of Tamil Nadu. Further these programmes are funded by central and state Governments and
External funding agencies (DANIDA and JAPAN Aid).
 Wastelands and rainfed lands are being treated through Integrated Watershed Management Approach. Watershed is a
piece of land that drains rain water into a common valley and watersheds may vary from small extent to large areas that
eventually constitute river basins. The experience in watershed programme done in earlier years all over the country has
shown that development of watersheds not completed with in short period.
 Hence, the development of wastelands with watershed approach may extent from three to five years in different
programmes. The first year may be spent in organising the community, imparting training, and planning. Development
activities like soil and moisture conservation measures and planting activities are taken up in subsequent years.
 The higher-grade wastelands with assured rainfall will be used for cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants and
creating horticulture orchards. The medium grade wastelands, oil plants comprising paradise tree and Jatropha will be
planted for producing edible and fuel oil. Bio-mass plantation like casuarina will help in generating electricity in marginal
wastelands.
Components of works in the watershed
1) Treating of the land with conservation measures.
2) Introduction of an improved package of crop production.
3) Harvesting of rainwater and safe disposal of surface run-off through field channel.
4) Alternative land use systems like silvipasture, agro-forestry and agro-horticulture to provide land cover and
fuel, fodder, and agricultural products.
5) To improve the socio-economic conditions of farmers, through agriculture and the agricultural related
occupations and finally restore ecological balance.

Methodology
 The present study is based on primary and secondary sources of data. The main purpose of the present study is to estimate
the changes that are taking place on wastelands in proportion to total geographical area in the selected 12 districts in Tamil
Nadu.
 As per the wastelands map prepared by National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) it is to be understood that about 12
districts were covered for assessment of wastelands through satellite data for the year 1985.
 The same districts were covered by the year 2000, in order to assess to the changes that have taken place on the
components of wastelands for these 12 districts in Tamil Nadu. A total of 180 respondents are selected from the list of
beneficiaries available with the District Rural Development Agency, Vellore and Cuddalore, by choosing 3 select
departments in the project area. The distribution of respondents from the selected departments.
CONCLUSION
• It is clear from the results the perceptions relating to effectiveness of NWDPRA among the
beneficiaries covered under various departments such as agriculture, agricultural engineering and
social forestry. Though all the respondents are aware of watershed development programme, the small
and medium farmers are quite familiar with the overall objectives as compared to the landless
labourers.
• The ability of re-charging of ground water, land leveling, construction of farm ponds, pasture
development, gully plugging, supply of fuel food, use of barren land, increase in rainfall, are
expressed by these farmers. It is to be noted that the objectives of watershed development programme
in terms of land related activities are not mentioned by the landless labourers and hence they are not
aware of these issues.
THANK YOU