An authoritative report, prepared by the Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell, a joint initiative of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Ambuja Cement Foundation, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the Gujarat government, has estimated that Gujarat accounts for 1.2 million hectares (ha) of saline soil, which is about 15 per cent of the country as a whole. Pointing out that the “soil salinity and sodicity is an important factor affecting the soil health and crop productivity”, the report says, “The total salt affected soils in India is approximately 8.1 million ha out of which 3.2 m ha is coastal saline soil and 2.8 m ha is sodic soil, and the rest 2.2 m ha is inland saline soil.
Ismailimail 