Khet Bachao Abhiyan and Sustainable Soil Health for UPSC Prelims – Prelims Specific

Introduction

The Khet Bachao Abhiyan is a grassroots agricultural movement focused on restoring soil health and addressing the economic crisis faced by farmers. It highlights the critical need to transition from chemical-intensive farming to sustainable practices by improving the outreach of agricultural extension services to the village level.

Why in News?

• Agricultural experts have launched a village-level outreach campaign to address yield plateaus and the rising costs of farming inputs.
• The movement serves as a corrective push to reverse land degradation and address the decline in soil organic carbon caused by decades of intensive chemical fertilizer use.

Static Link

• The campaign is rooted in the study of Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture under the Indian Agriculture syllabus.
• UPSC often examines the environmental impact of input subsidies, specifically the skewed use of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK).
• The issue links directly to the concept of the Ever-Green Revolution, which emphasizes long-term ecological sustainability alongside food productivity.

Institutional Link

• Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The nodal central ministry responsible for agricultural policy and extension.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The apex body that conducts research and oversees the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
• Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): These are district-level farm science centers that serve as the ultimate link between research and field application. They are funded by ICAR.
• National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning: A research institute focused on soil mapping and land use.

Core Prelims Facts

• Soil Organic Carbon (SOC): It is considered the most important indicator of soil health; levels in many Indian belts have fallen below the critical 0.5 percent threshold.
• Ideal NPK Ratio: The recommended fertilizer application ratio for Indian soil is 4:2:1 (Nitrogen: Phosphorus: Potassium).
• Soil Degradation Triggers: Excessive nitrogenous fertilizer use, over-irrigation leading to salinization, and a lack of systematic crop rotation are the primary drivers of soil quality decline.

Bodies / Organisations / Institutions

• ICAR: A registered society operating under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture.
• KVKs: These are institutional extensions meant to provide technology assessment, refinement, and demonstration of location-specific agricultural technologies.

Schemes / Laws / Reports / Conventions

• Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme: A government initiative to provide farmers with soil nutrient status reports to enable informed fertilizer usage.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): An essential scheme under the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) aimed at promoting organic farming and traditional agricultural systems.

Possible UPSC Prelims Traps

• KVKs Status: UPSC may label KVKs as a constitutional body or a private NGO; remember they are institutional arms under ICAR.
• NPK Ratio: Traps often involve reversing the 4:2:1 ratio or misattributing the specific roles of N, P, and K in soil health.
• Absolute Terms: Statements claiming that "all" soil degradation is due to fertilizer use are generally incorrect, as over-irrigation and poor land management are also major factors.

One-Minute Revision Notes

• Khet Bachao Abhiyan focuses on soil regeneration and reducing chemical input dependence.
• SOC (Soil Organic Carbon) below 0.5% indicates degraded health.
• The ideal NPK ratio is 4:2:1.
• KVKs are the primary extension nodes under ICAR.
• Major government schemes for soil health include SHC and PKVY.

Practice MCQ for Prelims

1. With reference to soil health in India, consider the following statements:

1. The ideal NPK (Nitrogen: Phosphorus: Potassium) consumption ratio for Indian soil is 4:2:1.

2. Soil Organic Carbon is a critical indicator of soil health and fertility.

3. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are managed directly by the state departments of agriculture.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation: KVKs are funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), a central body, not by state departments of agriculture. Statements 1 and 2 are factually correct.