REMINISCING RECLAMATION OF SALINE-SODIC LANDS IN INDIA I: TRANSFORMING BARREN LANDS IN PUNJAB INTO VERDANT RICE-WHEAT FIELDS
Around 1970 six million hectare (m ha) saline and sodic (commonly known as Kallar or Usar) lands were lying barren in India. Major chunks were in UP, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Punjab had 0.6 m ha, and the largest area was in Sangrur District. High concentration of harmful salts, especially sodium carbonate and bicarbonate, resulted from introduction of canal irrigation without adequate drainage. Disruption of natural drains due to human interventions and flooding compounded the malady.
Technology developed by US Soil Salinity Laboratory, Riverside for reclaiming saline-sodic lands was refined by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI) Karnal. The starting point for reclamation was soil testing. Main steps in Kallar reclamation were: (i) demarcation of these lands, (ii) on-farm development (ploughing, levelling, developing irrigation and drain networks, etc.), (iii) applying gypsum, (iv) ponding water, (v) leaching down harmful salts, and (vi) growing rice and wheat in a sequence. For national food security, Punjab started reclamation of Kallar lands in Sangrur district in 1973.
The first step was preparing a map showing distribution of different types of saline sodic lands in the district. Photographs taken by a low flying airplane were very useful and showed their location. After feeding the Bureaucracy Beast for several months by giving countless undertakings and guarantees, PAU finally received the aerial photographs in September 1973 when I started my first job as a Research Assistant. Due to defence installations, photographs of certain areas were not accessible. Paradoxically, satellite imageries of Punjab were easily available in USA in early 1970s. After photo interpretation in the laboratory, we were ready for ground truthing and field work in October 1973.
In those days, shortages of necessities of life like kerosene, Dalda (hydrogenated vegetable oil) and sugar were acute. These were aggravated by hoarding and hyperinflation following Yom Kippur War as Arab countries had started using oil as a weapon. Small quantities at controlled prices were supplied through ration shops, but we were not eligible. Large gap was bridged by procuring at a high price in the black-market and the quality was suspect.
Sodic land reclamation being a priority, Development Commissioner Mrs Sarla Grewal had instructed Sangrur Deputy Commissioner (DC) R D Joshi to extend all support to our Soil Survey Team comprising Soil Survey Wings of PAU and Punjab Soil Conservation Department. We stayed at Canal Rest House Babanpur. Our cook brought groceries from Dhuri and prepared the dinner. In the middle of the first night half of us were knocked down by diarrhoea, possibly due to consuming food cooked using expensive adulterated Dalda. Condition of our energetic Team Leader Dr Jawahar Lal Sehgal was particularly miserable. The next morning, he met the DC who directed District Food Controller to ask Dhuri Food and Civil Supplies Inspector to regularly supply the required quantity of kerosene, sugar, Dalda, etc. Of course, best quality wheat flour (for making Chapatis) was available across the bridge at Babanpur Gharraat (flour mill operated by canal water flow) and fresh vegetables were aplenty. With food problem solved, we concentrated on the field work and completed it by December 1973.
Eight soil series (unique soils covering substantial area and named after the villages) having varying levels of salinity (indicating total salt content) and sodicity (indicating content of very harmful sodium carbonates and bicarbonates) were established. Ghabdan soil had the highest concentration of salts and sodium carbonates, and shallow water table. It was perhaps the worst sodic soil in the country. Severity of salt accumulation can be judged from the fact that ladies collected salt crust and used it as soap for washing clothes (See photo 1). Kaheru, Langrian and Isri (also known as Issi, native village of Mohinder S. Mudahar) soils were not far behind.
Sodic lands were very hard when dry and difficult to plough. As far as the farmers could recall, these had never been cultivated. Gypsum (calcium sulphate) was used for reclamation as it replaced ‘bad’ sodium with ‘good’ calcium, and also softened the soil. Huge quantities (about 10 tons for one hectare of Ghabdan soil) were needed and transported from Rajasthan. For cost efficiency, part of the gypsum was not bagged and straightway loaded in railway rakes from huge grinders at the quarries. The farmers picked up gypsum in trolleys from the railway yards.
Other key requirements were good quality tube well water and an effective drainage system. Luckily underground water was good and major drains had already been dug out for flood control. Link drains were quickly developed to connect sodic lands with the main drains. Soil maps were ready by February 1974.
Reclamation teams led by Drs Nirmal Tej Singh, Mohinder Singh Bajwa and Bhajan Singh did a commendable job of training the farmers and demonstrating different steps in the reclamation process at Gharachon farm and on farmers’ fields elsewhere. Progressive farmers like Joginder Singh Grewal helped in mobilizing the farmers. Apart from gypsum, the reclaimed soils required higher quantities of phosphatic and zinc fertilizers. Toxic levels of boron and fluoride were also ameliorated.
Farmers carried out the back breaking work, often with bullocks as very few had tractors. Culture of freebies plaguing present Punjab was a few decades away. Except for subsidized gypsum, all costs were borne by the farmers. Pumping sets were diesel-operated, and diesel prices increased in line with international prices. Large number of shallow tube wells lowered the water table, minimizing re-sodification risk. Within a few years about 15% additional area was brought under rice-wheat cultivation by reclaiming barren lands. Partially salt-affected Category B lands, which had sodicity in patches, were also reclaimed. By 1990 Sangrur district emerged as the leader in wheat and rice production. The value of reclaimed lands increased many folds, and the farmers were happy. Some unscrupulous government officials, however, purchased barren lands from poor farmers at throw away prices in 1972–1973, exploiting farmer ignorance about the launching of the reclamation scheme.
It is pertinent to record the remarkable initiative of a pioneer farmer Brigadier Pritam Singh (of Poonch Saviour fame) of village Deh Kalan. He was allotted 4 acres of productive land. He exchanged it during consolidation of land holdings for 64 acres of barren sodic land. Keeping up with the latest farming literature, around 1960 he brought big lumps of gypsum from Rajasthan in railway wagons and ground them with tractor disc harrows. By applying gypsum, he turned his barren land into very productive land. Recently his son sold this land for Rs 24 crores.
Success in Sangrur was replicated in other districts. By 1995 about 70,000 ha of barren lands, mostly government owned or common lands, remained un-reclaimed in Punjab. Land reforms of 1950s, consolidation of land holdings and roads linking villages provided strong underpinnings for successful reclamation of lands. The approach followed was very cost effective.
In the adjoining Haryana, the ball was set rolling by CSSRI Karnal and the State Government. As a classic case of a senior government officer “Putting his own money where his mouth was” Dr D.R. Bhumbla, Founder Director CSSRI, invested his lifetime savings to purchase and reclaim salt-affected land. Post-retirement, he happily lived in his modest farmhouse. Can there be a better strategy to achieve farmer buy-in?
Taking a clue from Punjab and Haryana, UP launched sodic land reclamation programme in 1993 which will be covered in separate Blogs.
Google Map of Ghabdan (today, 18 June 2021) shows lush green fields and the building of PGI Sangrur. In 1973 it was a dilapidated Hermitage Palace Ghabdan Kothi of the former Ruler of Jind State in the middle of several thousand hectares of barren sodic lands. We could hardly see any crops except for salt tolerant grasses and short acacia (Kikar) trees (Similar to what you see in photo 1). Perhaps it was difficult even for the tuberculosis causing bacteria to survive in such a harsh, desiccating environment; and the Hermitage Palace was converted into a TB Hospital for isolating and treating the patients!
Reflecting on the Google Maps and the events half century later, I am envious and elated. Envious: because the real-time-information available at the click of a button is far superior to what we could see on the aerial photos obtained with great difficulty from the Department of Defence. Use of modern digital tools would have drastically enhanced our output and resource use efficiency. Elated: even in our wildest dreams we could not imagine what has actually been achieved on the ground. Our Best Bet Scenario was to produce 5 tons per ha of rice and wheat/year. Average productivity now is 9.5 tons per ha, and there is no difference between the normal soils and the reclaimed lands.
Innovative path-breaking work by Agri-preneur Avtar Singh Dhindsa has catalysed a miracle on the reclaimed Langrian soils. Flower seeds grown (See photo 4) on these soils are exported to more than 30 countries. For more details on this topic refer to my earlier MEDIUM Blog “Exporting seeds of fragrance from Punjab (India): Success story, policy and institutional issues.”
Of course, about 70 per cent soils in Sangrur were normal soils. One such benchmark soil was Balewal series, in the ancestral village of US politician Boby Jindal.
Four pillars of the remarkable success in transforming barren sodic lands in Punjab into lush green paddy and wheat fields (and a colourful flower collage!) in a very cost-effective way were:
1. Hard work of self-cultivating farmers, quickly adopting research recommendations, and earnestly valuing the support provided by the State Government as they always had their skin in the game.
2. Farmer-centered, field-focused, problem-solving research often carried out during harsh-humid summers and cold-shivery winters; and always undergirded by sound science and relevant laboratory and field work.
3. Strong connect among farmers, scientists, extension workers and Development Departments personnel.
4. Enabling policies and practical operational modalities crafted by the Punjab Government, and meticulously executed by upright, competent bureaucrats and technocrats.
