Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has adopted an integrated approach to natural resource management that recognises the inter-connectedness of agriculture, water, forests, biodiversity, climate action and rural livelihoods. This “Whole-of-Government” approach has emerged as a defining feature of India’s development trajectory.
As the country’s premier agricultural research institution, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has been at the forefront of this transformation. Over the last 12 years, ICAR has aligned its scientific innovations with national priorities with a focus on easing farmers’ operations by combating land degradation and enhancing climate resilience through sustainable land-use systems. We have built climate-resilient crop varieties, promoted integrated farming systems, advanced digital agriculture, strengthened precision natural resource management, expanded weather-based advisories and supported evidence-based policymaking at national and state levels.
India today faces significant challenges arising from land degradation. Water and wind erosion continue to threaten agricultural productivity, especially in dryland and rainfed regions. ICAR’s recent assessment (2020-2024) indicates that an average annual soil loss rate of > 50 t ha-1 yr-1 (equivalent to loss of 3.3 mm top soil annually) occurs due to wind erosion in almost 11.4 million hectares (ha) of land. Sand dune stabilisation and shelterbelt plantation technologies have transformed vast stretches of degraded arid landscapes, stabilising nearly 0.44 million ha of sand dunes. These interventions have not only protected fertile soils but have also generated substantial economic and environmental benefits for farming communities. A comprehensive Land Resource Inventory (LRI) for >100 lakh ha has been developed, enabling micro-level land-use planning that can raise productivity by 10–25% and reduce soil degradation by 20–40% under sustainable management practices.
Similarly, ICAR’s soil and water conservation technologies including contour bunding, graded bunding, vegetative barriers, check dams, gully plugging and farm ponds have significantly reduced water-induced land degradation and enhanced water-use efficiency in vulnerable landscapes.
However, scientific innovation alone is insufficient. Success lies in convergence.
The Government has increasingly adopted a ‘Whole-of-Government’ approach that brings together multiple ministries, programmes and institutions towards common outcomes. Flagship initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana–Watershed Development Component (PMKSY-WDC), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), Green India Mission, National Agroforestry Policy, Mission LiFE and various state-level natural resource management programmes are now creating synergistic impacts on the ground. Programmes such as VB-GRAMG (Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin), India’s flagship rural employment scheme. , and other rural transformation initiatives can further strengthen this ecosystem of convergence by integrating village-level planning, ecosystem restoration and livelihood generation.For instance under the NICRA project, ICAR has developed 448 climate-resilient, model villages benefiting 8.5 lakh farmers across crops, livestock, and fisheries, and scaled Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) to 1.04 lakh farm households in 79 districts, enhancing incomes to Rs 1.5–3.6 lakh/ha/yr.
As India moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, restoring degraded lands will be indispensable for achieving sustainable agricultural growth. India has nearly 6.73 million ha salt affected soils (sodic 3.77 million ha and saline 2.95 million ha), which is expected to reach 16.2 million ha by 2050, if not managed. In this direction, in the last 12 years alone, ICAR developed 141 soil and water conservation technologies delivering 30–50% reduction in runoff and soil erosion, 20–45% higher groundwater recharge, 20–60% yield increase, and 25–100% farm income improvement. This integrated approach reflects a fundamental shift from treating land restoration as an isolated environmental activity to recognising it as an investment in national development. Further, soil diagnostics has been scientifically strengthened through the National Soil Spectral Library (>40,000 spectra), and Mrida Parikshak kits enabling 28 million Soil Health Cards, improving nutrient management decisions. Reclamation of 2.22 million ha of salt affected soils has contributed to 17 million tons of additional food grain to the national food basket and generated 310 million man-days of employment valued for nearly Rs. 20,000 crores.
Agroforestry deserves special mention in this context, as it simultaneously enhances carbon sequestration, conserves biodiversity, improves soil health, reduces erosion and provides additional sources of income through timber, fodder, fruits and fuelwood. The mapped area under agroforestry in the country is estimated as 28.427 million ha. Through institutions such as the ICAR-Central Agro-Forestry Research Institute (CAFRI) and our network of research centres across the country, some 80 region-specific agroforestry models have been developed. These integrate trees, crops and livestock into resilient production systems that have the potential to sequester nearly 6 billion carbon equivalents contributing significantly to climate resilience vis-à-vis carbon neutrality. These evidence-based solutions support India’s commitments towards Land Degradation Neutrality, climate action and achieving net-zero aspirations.
The pathway forward is clear. No single institution can address the challenges of desertification and climate change alone. Success will depend upon partnerships between farmers, communities, scientists, policymakers, civil society organisations and multiple ministries working together in a coordinated manner. Historically, India has demonstrated that science, policy convergence and community participation can deliver transformative outcomes. ICAR will continue to serve as a knowledge partner and innovation engine in this national endeavour, guided by the principles of sustainable natural resource management and the R3 framework – Respect, Recognise and Restore. Let us Respect the land. Recognise its value. Restore its potential. Only then can we secure a resilient, prosperous and sustainable India.
(The author is Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) & Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Views expressed are personal)