This volume provides a comprehensive analysis of the macro- and micro-level issues associated with agrarian distress. It analyses structural, institutional, and policy changes, highlighting the failure of public support system in agriculture. The crisis manifests itself in the form of deceleration in growth and distress of farmers. The case studies from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Punjab bring out the diversity of conditions prevalent in the states.

In the Indian context; contributed papers presented at the 22nd Conference of the Institute of Indian Geographers, and International Geographical Union Commission Meeting on Land Degradation and Desertification, held at the Dept. of Geography, Visva-Bharati University, on January 9-11, 2001.

This book discusses land degradation in India using statistical tools such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Regression Analysis (RA), and uses statistical analyses and graphical representations of the causal relationship between land degradation and land productivity to determine linkages with deforestation, climate change and agricultural productivity. While most studies of land degradation in India focus on economic outcomes and physical processes at macro and micro levels, this study addresses land degradation at the meso-level to fill in this gap and provide up-to-date information on often overlooked factors associated with land degradation issues using the latest available data. Districts in the study were selected by land degradation intensity, forming an index of the severity of land degradation in the area, with a focus on gullied lands, soil salinity/alkalinity and open and dense scrubs as indicators. Though the study areas are in India, researchers, policy makers and students around the world will be able to learn from these inputs regarding land degradation to address various challenges associated with sustainable land management and agricultural productivity.

This book offers the scientific basis for the ample evaluation of badland management in India and some surrounding regions. It examines the processes operating in the headwaters and main channels of ephemeral rivers in lateritic environments of India. In particular, the book covers a range of vital topics in the areas of gully erosion and water to soil erosion at lateritic uplands regions of India and other regions in Asia. It explores the probable gully erosion modeling through Remote Sensing & GIS Techniques. It is divided into three units. Unit I deals with the introduction of badland, types of badland and the process of badland formation. Unit II is devoted to a description of quantitative measurements. Unit III deals with the control and management processes related to various issues from different regions. As such this book serves as a reference book for research activities in this area. It is an efficient guide for aspiring researchers in applied geography, explaining advanced techniques to help students recognize both simple and complex concepts.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Enhancing Soil Health to Mitigate Soil Degradation" that was published in Sustainability

Based on an International Workshop held in Arusha, Tanzania, this book presents state-of-the-art papers, real world applications, and innovative techniques for combating land degradation. It offers recommendations for effectively using weather and climate information for sustainable land management practices.