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Land Degradation In Gujarat: An Overview

Abstract

 Land degradation can be considered in terms of the loss of actual or potential productivity or utility as a result of natural or anthropic factors; it is the decline in land quality or reduction in its productivity. Gujarat is the one of the fastest growing states of India. The state has adopted a novel pattern of progress with the strategic development of the key sectors like energy, industry and agriculture for which it has achieved ambitious double digit growth rate since 10th Five Year Plan period. The state constitutes about 6.2 per cent of total geographical area and 4.99 per cent of total population of India. As per Census 2011, about 3.47 crores people of the state live in rural areas forming about 57.4 per cent of its total population (GOI, 2011). Agriculture in Gujarat is characterized by natural disparities. A large and growing population has placed a great deal of stress on the topsoil resources of this region. Much of the land used for agriculture in the state is of a very marginal nature. This, combined with the intensive nature of the agricultural practices of this region, has placed its soil resources face a constant danger of depletion. Currently, the heavy application of fertilizers is required to maintain basic productive capacity. Rapid urban and industrial development, deforestation, inadequate soil conservation, the cultivation of steep slopes and overgrazing have all had a devastating impact. The resultant effects of the degradation are massive unemployment, migration of labour, regional and intergenerational disparities, loss of natural resource base and ecological imbalance.

 Priyanka, Hemant Sharma, Meera And M. K. Lakhotiya 

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