Soil health is in serious trouble: Is there a way of this mess? – 9 Dec 2024

Approximately 96-120 million hectares of land in India is degraded, affecting forests, croplands, and pastures.

Half of India's cultivable land is deficient in soil organic carbon (SOC) and lacks essential macro and micronutrients, leading to reduced productivity.

Over-reliance on chemical fertilizers has deteriorated microbial diversity and organic content in the soil.

Soil erosion from heavy rainfall and improper land use further depletes soil quality?.

Less than 5% of farmers practice mulching or cover cropping, and only 1% adopt modern sustainable methods like direct-seeded rice.

So what is the way out of this impasse