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

(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.