Centrally Sponsored Programme for Reclamation of Alkali Soil (RAS ...

Centrally Sponsored Programme for Reclamation of Alkali Soil (RAS)
1. Background:
The Centrally Sponsored Programme for Reclamation of Alkali Soil (RAS) was
launched in the Seventh Five Year Plan for reclamation of soils, which are suffering
from alkalinity. The Alkali Soils contain more than 15% Exchangeable Sodium
Percentage (ESP) on clay complex basis and pH (reciprocal of hydrogen ion
concentration) of saturated soil paste is more than 8.2. This programme is now being
implemented through Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA).
2. Objectives:
The main objectives of the programme are:-
a) Reclamation of the lands affected by alkalinity and improves land productivity
by growing salt tolerance crops and horticulture plantations.
b) Increase the production of fuel wood and fodder.
c) Improve capacity of extension personnel and beneficiaries in various aspects
of alkali land reclamation technology and
d) Generate employment opportunities & thereby reduce rural urban migration.
3. States covered:
About 70.00 lakh ha. area is affected by salt problem, out of which about 35.81
lakh ha. area suffers from alkalinity in the country. Such alkali soils are largely
located in the 11 States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh as
per State-wise details given in Annexure-I.
4. Financing Pattern:
The financing pattern of this programme is in the ratio of 90:10 between Central
and State Governments respectively. This assistance to the States is provided as
80% grant and 20% loan. The subsidy on the soil amendment is restricted to 25% of
the actual cost of the amendment.
5. Selection of Area:
The Alkali area is selected keeping in view, the severity of the alkalinity as per
scientific parameters, availability of irrigation source and cropping condition. Isolated
approach is adopted for the area having lesser degree of Alkalinity (pH 8.2 to 9.2),
occurring in isolated patches. The projectised approach is adopted in case of higher
degree of Alkalinity existing in contiguous manner with minimum village as unit.
6. Components of Programme:
The isolated and projectised approaches for reclamation of alkali soils are
adopted. The main components/activities to be covered under project are:-
(A) Isolated Approach:
Survey, planning and awareness campaign and training of beneficiaries & staff.
Formation of Water User Group, Site Implementation Committee (SIC)
On Farm Development (OFD) – land leveling, construction of field channels,
bunding, construction of field drains etc.
Providing soil amendment (Gypsum/Pyrite) @ 50% of Gypsum required value
or maximum of 5 tonnes per ha. in addition, it’s application/mixing with soil
when temperature is around 40 degree centigrade.
Overall unit cost of reclamation under Isolated Approach is Rs.11300.00 per ha.

(B) Additional components for Projectized Approach:
Providing soil amendment (Gypsum/Pyrite) @ 50% of Gypsum required value
or maximum of 15 tonnes per ha. in addition, it’s application/mixing with when
temperature is around 40 degree centigrade.
Boring and installation of pump sets (if does not exist) for four ha. each,
Providing critical inputs like seed high yielding variety, fertilizer, insecticides,
pesticides etc. for summer and winter crop for two years.
Providing green manure seed @ 60 kg. per ha. for two years
Plantation of fruit trees/ fuel wood/fodder species @ 160 plants per ha.
Maintenance of planted area for three years on minimum cost basis.
Overall unit cost of reclamation under Projectized Approach is Rs.57300.00 per ha.
7. Monitoring Mechanism:
The Programme is being implemented by the Multidisciplinary team of Officers
of State Governments on Watershed basis. The data in prescribed proforma are
collected at project and State level and periodically reported to Government of India.
At national level the progress of the implementation is reviewed in meeting of Standing
Committee constituted for this purpose beside periodic visit of regional, State and
National level functionaries.
At national level, the programme is reviewed by holding Annual Desk Review,
Quarterly Desk Review to assess the actual implementation and suggest plan of action
for the improvement in the implementation.
At State level also, the progress of implementation of programme is monitored
by Project and State Level Committees constituted for this purpose.
8. Impact of Programme:
The programme implementation has been evaluated by different outside
agencies. The evaluation study conducted for the area reclaimed in selected districts
of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh by Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal,
Haryana, has indicated following impacts :
pH of reclaimed soil decreased from 9.4 – 10.5 to 8.9 – 9.2
increased organic carbon from 0.15 to 0.38%
increased paddy yield from 19-41 Q/ha.
76% increase in income of farming families in the reclaimed areas
enhancement in land values, average crop yield and cropping intensity and
created additional employment for the farmers in rural areas itself.
9. Achievements of X Five Year Plan:
Since inception upto IX Plan, an area of 5.81 lakh ha. has been reclaimed with
expenditure of Rs.76.39 crore. During first three years of X Plan (2002-05) an area of
0.78 lakh ha. has been reclaimed with expenditure of Rs.20.25 crore. Since inception
upto end of 2004-05, an area of 6.59 lakh ha. has been reclaimed with an expenditure
of Rs.96.64 crore. During 2005-06, an amount of Rs.760.00 lakh has been allocated
under MMA by 7 States for reclamation of 45,500 ha. area. The State-wise details of
extent of alkali lands, achievements upto 2004-05 and allocation of funds for 2005-06
are at Annexure-I.

S.
No
Annexure-I
State-wise extent of Alkali area, progress upto IX Plan, Progress in first three years of X
Plan (2002--05) and programmes for 2005-06 for Reclamation of Alkali Soils
Name of
State
Alkali
area
Progress upto IX
Plan
Progress
During 3 years of
X Plan (2002-05)
(Phy. in thousand ha. & Fin. in Rs. lakh)
Progress since
inception upto
2004-05
Target &
outlay for
2005-06
Phy. Fin. Phy. Fin. Phy Fin. Phy. Fin.
1. Andhra
Pradesh
64.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2. Bihar 4.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Gujarat 610.00 4.72 300.08 25.00 629.55 29.80 929.63 8.00 111.00
4. Haryana 450.00 166.95 1665.41 32.00 818.00 198.90 2483.41 10.00 200.00
5. Karnatak
a
76.00 0.00 0.00 2.34 325.65 2.30 325.65 5.00 89.00
6. Madhya
Pradesh
164.00 0.09 183.53 0.00 0.00 0.10 183.53 0.00 0.00
7. Maharastra 59.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.50 40.00
8. Punjab 718.00 275.20 3205.92 1.33 19.81 276.50 3225.73 5.00
9. Rajasthan 332.00 5.87 128.20 13.40 171.51 19.30 299.71 12.00
10. Tamil
Nadu
11. Uttar
Pradesh
TOTAL
4.00 0.00 0.00 2.10 50.41 2.10 50.41 5.00
1100.00 128.23 2155.58 1.54 9.92 129.70 2165.50 0.00
3581.00
581.06
7638.72
77.70
2024.8
658.77
9663.57
45.50
100.00
170.00
Issues:
1. Rs. 195.90 lakh has been released as 1 st installment from MMA, under 2005-06 but
progress is still awaited
2. Since inception upto 2004-05, an area of 6.59 lakh ha. of Alkali Lands have been
reclaimed and still about 29.22 lakh ha. area of alkali lands are to be reclaimed.
3. The subsidy on the soil amendment has been reduced to 25% as compared to
75% of IX Plan period. This has resulted in poor allocation of funds under MMA for
this programme, particularly in the State’s of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Punjab and Rajasthan.
50.00
0.00
760.00

State-wise Physical and Financial Progress of Reclamation of Alkali Soils
(RAS) since inception up-to IX Plan and during first four years of X Plan.
Phy. Area in lakh ha. & Fin. In Rs. lakh
Up to IX Plan 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06
Total First Four Years of
X Plan
Total Since Inception up
to 2005-06
S.No. Name of States
Andhra
Physical Financial Physical Financial Physical Financial Physical Financial Physical Financial Physical Financial Physical Financial
1 Pradesh 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00
2 Bihar 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00
3 Gujarat 0.047 300.08 0.031 135.83 0.048 240.37 0.172 253.35 0.085 447.55 0.336 1077.10 0.383 1377.18
4 Haryana 1.669 1665.41 0.097 400.00 0.119 218.00 0.104 200.00 0.132 260.00 0.452 1078.00 2.121 2743.41
5 Karnataka
Madhya
0.000 0.00 0.008 142.94 0.009 111.71 0.006 71.00 0.006 73.15 0.029 398.80 0.029 398.80
6 Pradesh 0.001 183.53 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.001 183.53
7 Maharashtra 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00
8 Punjab 2.752 3205.92 0.008 13.38 0.005 6.43 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.013 19.81 2.765 3225.73
9 Rajasthan 0.059 128.20 0.070 112.00 0.013 8.54 0.051 50.97 0.031 86.36 0.165 257.87 0.224 386.07
10 Tamil Nadu 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.009 19.28 0.012 31.13 0.030 62.90 0.051 113.31 0.051 113.31
11 Uttar Pradesh 1.282 2155.58 0.010 1.10 0.005 8.82 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.015 9.92 1.297 2165.50
Total 5.810 7638.72 0.224 805.25 0.208 613.15 0.345 606.45 0.284 929.96 1.061 2954.81 6.871 10593.53

State-wise Status of Reclamation of Alkali Soils (RAS) during X Plan
Allocation of X plan
Phy. Area in lakh ha. & Fin. In Rs. lakh
Total First Four Years of X Plan Allocation 2006-07 Total X Plan Balance
Name of States Physical Financial Physical Financial Physical Financial Physical Financial
Andhra
Pradesh 0.000 0.00 0.015 158.00 0.015 158.00
Bihar 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00
Gujarat 0.278 842.55 0.035 384.46 0.313 1227.01
Haryana 0.452 1078.00 0.030 200.00 0.482 1278.00
Karnataka 0.023 325.65 0.010 133.33 0.033 458.98
Madhya
Pradesh 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.00
Maharashtra 0.000 0.00 0.010 100.00 0.010 100.00
Punjab 0.013 19.81 0.030 200.00 0.043 219.81
Rajasthan 0.165 257.87 0.100 293.00 0.265 550.87
Tamil Nadu 0.029 62.47 0.008 10.00 0.037 72.47
Uttar Pradesh 0.015 9.92 0.000 0.00 0.015 9.92
1.000 10000.00 0.975 2596.27 0.238 1478.79 1.213 4075.06 -0.213 5924.940
State wise allocation for RAS is not done as funds are being provided by StateAgriculture Deptt. under
MMA