Organic Farming (1+1)

Difficulties in Financing for Soil Reclamation

Besides ignorance of bad effects of soil salinity and subsequentreduction in crop yields, the bankers are reluctant to finance for reclamation of saline soils. In certain case, the local bankers are not aware that NABARD provides refinance assistance for reclamation of saline soils under land development activity. There are certain difficulties in financing for reclamation activities as discussed below:

• Desalinisation is a long term process; and simultaneously protection to safeguard land area is also essential.
• Desalinisation is not limited to the individual efforts. It should be scientifically managed on the basis of land slope and command areas. Individual farmer's efforts goes futile if other neighboring farmers do not follow the amelioration programmes. Collective efforts are essential for more effectiveness.
• Desalinisation is a scientific process. On the contrary, farmers do not know scientific processes and their results. Farmers ignorance in this respect results in waste of time and money. Lack of demonstration farms is a serious limitation.
• UGP drainage system is a skill oriented one and needs proper guidance.
• The farmers are not submitting schemes for amelioration of salinity. Similarly farmers are not aware of the scheme of financing for desalinisation. Lack of knowledge among farmers and many officials is a serious limitation. Farmers are restless due to the growing problem of salinity, but helpless due to lack of knowledge and lethargy of the farmers institutions in solving the problem of soil salinity. Sugar factories and NGOs should take initiative in this regard and work out for repayment through tie-up and extension support.
• Government initiation plays a significant role in the scheme of desalinisation. In fact the problem of salinity is an out come of hurried efforts of irrigation development. Government is not having any well-drawn out scheme for this problem.
• Cooperative credit structure is much worried of the salinity, because of its high exposure to cooperative sugar factories. Other financial agencies are not so worried of the problem.
• Construction of drainage systems to channelise the saline water to flow towards slopes is the major effort required to be implemented. The use of excavators is essential. Similarly drainage should be constructed as per the slopes, which covers farm units owned by many farmers. So group action needs to be promoted. Simultaneously proper maintenance of the drainages is also essential. All these activities can only be made through collective efforts. Banking agencies consider that it would be difficult to coordinate.

In order to adopt permanent and cost effective saline soil treatment methods, it has been suggested to take up the subsoil drainage system rather than following temporary cultural practices like green manuring, open drains, crop rotation, mulching etc. A simple model of laying underground drainage system with PVC pipes to drain out excess water in waterlogged areas and soluble salts in salt affected areas is explained below.