4 - Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture

National Workshop-cum-Training on Bloinformatio and InfOnrccltiOfI Management in Aquaculture
The soils after reclamation are producing cereals to the extent of 2.6 Tonnes per
hectare and increasing family income by 50 percent, against virtually nothing
before the treatment. The UP Sodic Land Reclamation Project has estimated the
net returns of Rs 700 crores from an area of around 36000 ha. This indicated
that for 1 Mha salt-affected lands, the net returns would be nearly Rs 2000
crores. The project has helped in poverty reduction, increased family income in
about 2,28,000 families belonging to small and marginal farmers and more
importantly, effecting ecological restoration of sodic soils. It is worth highlighting
that remote sensing and GIs inputs, though costing just 2 percent of the project
cost, contributes significantly to the success of project.
There are 7 Mha saline and alkaline soils in the country as per National
Wasteland maps, which need treatment. The wasteland maps are the only spatial
information, which could serve the purpose of making specific physical
interventions towards ecological restoration and improving productivity. It is
important that the success of 'U.P. Sodic Land Reclamation Project' could be
replicated in these areas.
3.4 Watershed characterization and prioritization
With synoptic, repetitive and wide coverage in narrow and discrete bands
satellite remote sensing has been extremely valuable tool for characterization of
watershed for soil conservation measures to be adopted for sustainable
development. Identification of drainage and stream network, land coverlland
use, surface water bodies, land forms etc in a watershed has been made possible
using satellite data. Work on characterization of several watersheds (in Narmada
basin, Ukai catchment)and correlation of annual runoff with land cover,
development of erosion indices for prioritization of watershed for soil
conservation measures has been reported by Sahai (1989).
Under the Integrated Mission for sustainable development (IMSD) programme of
Department Space, studies are being carried out using remote sensing, GIs and
other conventional data for generation of action plan packages on
watershedltehsil block basis in 175 districts all over India. In this programme, a
natural resources data base e.g. hydrogeomorphology, water quality and depth,
soils, vegetation land uselland cover, drainage and watershed, slope, transport
and settlements etc, are created using remotely sensed and other conventional
data. Then integration of natural resources database, social-economic database
and contemporary technology is carried out in GI5 environment and action plans
are generated for development of land and water resources such as soil
conversation, ground water exploration an recharge, surface water harvesting,
alternate land use practices and use of waste land into productive use. These
action plans are provided to the district and state administration for
implementation. The integration of remotely sensed satellite date with ground
survey in planning and development of watersheds holds great promise.
3.5 Crop Discrimination and Cropping System Analysis
Diversification of agriculture is a lesson learnt from the green revolution. To
stabilize the productivity levels, diversification holds the key. Diversification of
agriculture calls for ecological zonation in terms of uniqueness of soil types,
crops, climate and topography. IARI has carried out cropping system analysis for