Soil Conservation in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

 

The Soil Conservation Sector has 2(two) schemes viz.

Scheme No.1- Conservation of Soil in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

 

           The Major work proposes under Soil conservation Work on 50 % loan –cum-subsidy for individual land holdings. The other work proposes soil conservation work on watershed basis is planned to take up comprehensive soil conservation work for conservation development and sustainable management of natural resources with holistic approach in the small watershed areas. This proposes treatment of all exiting Nallahs in upper middle & lower riches including construction of check dams, Sunken ponds, Contour trenches, contour Bunds, so that the run off is reduced, more water is allowed to percolate in the soil, Water table is increased and moisture loss is minimized. In addition to this soil survey works and analysis of soil samples @ 12000 per year and issue of Soil Health Card @ 1000 per year has been aimed. Under the scheme No.1 Improvement of wasteland in tribal areas of Nicobar group of Islands, Repair & Maintenance of Various Soil Conservation Farms has also been proposed. 

Scheme No.2 – Reclamation of Saline affected Land, Stream Bank Erosion, Preservation of Gravel deposit & drainage.

 

          Due to the land surrounded by sea and other various limitation factors like intrusion of Saline Water in the allotted cultivable land causing soil salinity, stagnation & water logging in the low lying paddy areas, deposition of gravels carried from different gullies & nallahs and its deposition on the flat agriculture land in the foot hills, About 2000 Ha of land has become unfit for cultivation. To eliminate the above problem, the department has proposed to take up various reclamation measures to bring more area under cultivation. There is a constant demand from the affected cultivators for the allotment of alternative land where the above-mentioned problem exists. Instead of compensatory allotment of land it has been proposed to reclaim the above mentioned land through various measures like Saline reclamation bunds, Construction of sluice gates, Improvement of Drainage, Control of Stream Bank erosion &gravel deposition, Construction of check dams etc. in a big way by the Soil Conservation wing of the department of Agriculture.

SOIL CONSERVATION LOANS

 

NATIONAL WATERSHED PROJECT FOR RAINFED AREAS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

        The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands comprises 572 Islands and Islets, Rock and Coral reefs, stretching 720 km in the Bay of Bengal from 60 to 140 North latitude and 920 to 940 East longitudes. Altogether, these Islands cover a geographical area of 8429 sq.km and hold a population of about 5 lakh (estimated) concentrated mainly in 38 large and small inhabited Islands.86% of the landmass of the Union Territory is covered by forest. Only 6% of the total geographical area is available for agricultural purpose, divided among about 10414 holdings.

        The Islands are bountiful with over 3000 mm of annual rainfall; thus, it seems the Union Territory should have more than sufficient water to meet its irrigation or drinking water needs. Unfortunately, the undulated land with hilly slopes and lack of any perennial water source  make the soil unsuitable for retaining the desired moisture level. Rain is received for seven-eight months of the year, from May to December. The remaining four months of the year are critically dry (January-April). The lack of assured irrigation facilities limit the agricultural activities in these Islands particularly during Rabi season.

        Basic objective of Water Conservation Technology is to conserve both water and soil and to promote in-situ moisture conservation under NWDPRA scheme. Attempt has been successfully made to convert surface flow (run-off) into sub surface flow (deep-parcolation) and reduce the velocity and volume of water going outside the watershed areas, and recharge the ground water table. The NWDPRA projects were taken up in both arable and non-arable lands.

The following components are provided free of cost to the beneficiary 

Crop Demonstration in Cultivator’s land

1. Single Crop

@ Rs. 325 /each

2. Double crop

@ Rs. 525 /each

3. Inter crop

@ Rs. 400 /each

Dry land Horticulture

Planting of fruit crops

@ Rs. 15 /each

Organic farming system

Incentives of compost pits and Bio-fertilizers

@ Rs. 1000 /each

Homestead Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Backyard Horticulture

@ Rs. 1000 /Unit

Small livestock system, Agro processing and service sector to Rural Artisans.

@ Rs. 1000 /unit

Small Dugout Sunken Ponds

@ Rs.2000/Nos.

Run off Management dugout ponds

@ Rs.3000/each

Run off Management dugout ponds with vegetative inlet and outlets at lower reaches.

@Rs.25000/each

FIELD ACTIVITIES UNDER CONSERVATION MEASURES

1. Vegetative filterstrip

@ Rs. 15 /RMT

2. Contour vegetative hedges

@ Rs. 3000 /ha

3. Contour vegetative hedges over counter trenches

@ Rs. 400 /ha

4.Repairing of existing soil conservation measure built by cultivator.

@ Rs. 500 /ha

5. Live fencing

@ Rs. 10 /RMT

6. Contour hedges with furrows.

@ Rs. 500/ha

7. Gully plugging

@ Rs. 750 /each

8. Over seeding of grass and legumes

@ Rs. 200 /each

9. Planting of trees on drainage line.

@ Rs. 15 /each

1. Vegetative filterstrip

@ Rs. 15 /RMT

2. Contour vegetative hedges

@ Rs. 3000 /ha

Treatment of Drainage line

a. Bank stabilization with vegetative method.

@ Rs. 10 /RMT

b. Live Check Dam

@ Rs. 100 /each

c. Brush Wood Dam

@ Rs. 150 /each

d. Loose boulder check dam with vegetative support.

@ Rs. 750/each

e. Loose boulder check dam with vegetative support.

@ Rs. 3000/each

f. Earthen structure with vegetative support pitching with local materials.

@ Rs. 1250/each

        All the structural materials involved for implementating watershed projects are exclusively made available from local parent materials like bamboo, canes, rocks, jungle posts live fencing etc, resulting in a very low cost, moderately durable, and eco-friendly infrastructure.  

        The total funding of this Centrally Sponsored NWDPRA Scheme is provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and  Co-operation as grant-in-aid. As per revised cost norms the unit cost of  various works under NWDPRA has been made Rs. 6000/- per ha. for the land having more than 8% slope w.e.f. 14-11-2000.