comScore
Active Stocks
Fri Dec 08 2023 15:59:53
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 129.2 -0.62%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,653.1 1.38%
  1. State Bank Of India share price
  2. 614 0.35%
  1. NTPC share price
  2. 285.25 0.42%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 449.15 -1.95%
Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Desertification eating into agricultural land in India, satellite images show
Back Back

Desertification eating into agricultural land in India, satellite images show

A report from the Isro says land degradationbroadly defined as loss of productivityis estimated at 96 million hectares, or nearly 30% of land

In states like Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat and Goa, more than 50% of land is under desertification. Photo: PTIPremium
In states like Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat and Goa, more than 50% of land is under desertification. Photo: PTI

Chennai: More than a quarter of India’s land is turning to desert and the rate of degradation of agricultural areas is increasing, according to new analysis of satellite images.

A report from the Indian Space Research Organisation says land degradation—broadly defined as loss of productivity—is estimated at 96 million hectares, or nearly 30% of land.

“As a country we should be more than alarmed by this data," said S. Janakarajan, chairman of the South Asia Consortium for Inter-disciplinary Water Resources Studies.

“There is no coherent plan to reverse this process or its impact."

Analysis of satellite mapping shows new areas in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir and eastern Indian states like Orissa and Jharkhand turning arid, with nine states together accounting for nearly 24% of desertification.

In states like Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat and Goa, more than 50% of land is under desertification.

“Population pressure has resulted in over exploitation of land for cultivation, grazing, water resources and deforestation leading to degradation of drylands," minister Jitendra Singh wrote in the report.

The ongoing study, initiated by the ministry of environment, forests & climate change, was led by the Indian Space Research Organisation and involved 19 other institutes.

It analysed satellite images over an eight year period to compile the atlas.

“This is the first time we are looking at a digital atlas of degradation and it is pointing at newer areas undergoing desertification," A.S. Rajawat of the Space Applications Centre told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“It is a ready reckoner to understand where we stand and the impact of land degradation on agricultural productivity." Reuters

Milestone Alert!
Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world 🌏 Click here to know more.

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 18 Aug 2016, 09:55 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App