Reclamation of Saline Soils through Subsurface Drainage Technology in Haryana – An Economic Impact Analysis

Abstract

Soil salinity is one of the major land degradation problem in Indian agriculture which adversely affects the productivity of agricultural land. In India, saline soils occur in 29,56,809 ha area spread in 12 states and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Out of which Haryana has 49157 ha area affected by soil salinity. To sustain and enhance the agricultural productivity in waterlogged saline soils, subsurface drainage technology and improved irrigation management, has been identified as the most appropriate strategy. But installation cost of subsurface drainage technology is very high and an individual farmer cannot adopt this technology in small scale. However, this technology can be implemented in large scale with the support of government or other financing agency. Haryana operational pilot project has playing a major role in installing this technology in Haryana. It has a target of installation of the technology in one thousand hectare per annum. The present study is an attempt to work out the cost of installing subsurface drainage system and to examine the economic feasibility and financial viability of this technology in the long run. The findings of the present study revealed that, 44.24 per cent reduction in soil salinity, 49.50 per cent reduction in drain water salinity and a remarkable reduction of water table depth (35.80%). The study was also recorded a considerable 20.32 per cent increase in cropping intensity, shift in the cropping pattern towards more remunerative crops and significant increase in crop yields. The yield increase in rice, cotton, wheat and mustard crops were 20.46, 16.26, 19.75 and 15.01 per cent, respectively. The combined result of these changes was a substantial increase in farm income after the installation of subsurface drainage technology in farmers field. Along with significant increase in yield of major crops in the project area, a maximum area of 26.60 per cent of fallow land was brought under cultivation. These gains from drainage are helping to increase land productivity, providing employment to the farmers and, hence increasing their farm income. The installation cost was estimated as 62,000 per ha. The financial analysis carried out on four alternative crop rotations, of which rice-wheat cropping system provides highest benefit with a net present worth of 1,12,862 and a three years payback period. The internal rate of returns estimated to 39.64 per cent and benefit-cost ratio was 2.71. Thus, the subsurface drainage technology, proved technically feasible, financially economical and socially beneficial in waterlogged saline soils of Haryana.