TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY PATHWAYS FOR RECLAMATION OF SALT AFFECTED LANDS IN INDOGANGETIC PLAIN.

Salinization of irrigated lands is a major issue in India having serious implications on food security and environment. Appropriate technology packages-one for reclaiming water logged saline soils underlain by brackish water aquifers; and the other for sodic soils, mostly underlain by good quality groundwater, have been evolved. The evolution and out-scaling of these agro-technologies with supporting policies and institutions, is presented. The restoration of sodic lands was achieved through integrated management of rainwater (in farm pond and rice paddies), chemical amendment for neutralization of alkalinity, shallow tube wells for irrigation and drainage and land surface modifications to improve salt leaching and irrigation efficiency. The technology for reclamation of saline soils, evolved from multi-location field experimentation, with focus on shallow horizontal subsurface drainage system for monsoonal climate. The system required minimal pumping, and offered opportunity for practicing controlled drainage to reduce irrigation requirements in post reclamation years. The monitored data indicated favourable changes in hydrology, subsoil water quality (in case of saline water logged lands), land productivity, farm income and employment. The assessment of out-scaled land restoration programme revealed that, public policies in respect of energy for energizing tube wells, subsidy on chemical amendments and farm credit, accelerated the pace of technology adoption. The institutional arrangements - research institutions, land reclamation corporations and international organizations with strong linkages at country level; and the users' associations, self-help groups and cooperatives at village level, very effectively supported the land reclamation, leading to transformative socio-economic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]