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INTEGRATED LAND AND WATER RESOURCES IN HILLY AREAS OF INDIA

By

Dr S.C. Patra, Professor, NERIWALM, Tezpur

Introduction

The mountain ranges and hill areas of India have a crucial role to play in determining the climate and

physiography of the country and are prime determinants of socio-economic development of plain

areas as the rivers have their genesis here and the protection and climatic control they provide have

enabled India to sustain its position as an economic power. Keeping in view the increasing population

pressure in the hill areas and the need to preserve their fragile ecology, the Central Government has

been allocating Special Central Assistance to these areas.

Farmers in Hilly Areas operate against a background of water scarcity. Today, a number of

converging trends, including land degradation, population growth and climate change, exacerbate the

challenges of the hilly areas. These trends all add to the increasing uncertainties facing the rural poor

who depend largely on a fragile natural resource base. Sustainable increases in future food supplies

must come from increased productivity i.e. producing 'more crops per drop.

Land degradation neutrality approach in India

Recognising that India's food security is under threat due to fast desertification of land,

Government of India on 17th June 2014 announced an ambitious programme to combat the challenge

and make the country "land degradation neutral" by 2030. Environment Minister had said that the

objective of the land degradation neutrality is to maintain or improve the condition of land resources

through the sustainable management of soil, water and biodiversity. "In India, we are facing the

problem of degradation of land, desertification of the land and creation of wasteland. All these are

major challenges as it impacts the livelihood. The Environment Minister further said that “the Central

Government has decided that the poverty eradication is the main objective of this government, to that

end we must make the country degradation neutral by 2030," The Minister was speaking as the chief

guest on the occasion of "World Day to Combat Desertification" organised by the Environment

Ministry and Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education. 'Land belongs to the Future, Let's

climate proof it' was the theme of the programme. He said that the Environment Ministry will take a

lead in cooperating with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Water

Resources and other Ministries concerned to chart out a detailed programme to combat the challenge

of land degradation with the participation of people.

Land degradation neutrality was born out of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable

Development (Rio+20) where member states recognised the need for urgent action to reverse land

degradation. The concept also embraces the restoration of degraded natural and semi-natural

ecosystems that provide vital, albeit indirect, services to people and working landscapes.

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Water Resources

Water sustains life. It is therefore a basic human need and right without which human beings cannot

survive. Each person needs a minimum of 20 to 40 litres of water per day for drinking and basic

hygiene. However, the world’s freshwater resources face increasing demands from population growth,

economic activity and, in some countries, improved standards of living. It is also becoming clear that

sustainable development includes maintaining healthy ecosystems and biodiversity, which require

sufficient water. Competing demands and conflicts over rights of access occur amidst the fact that

many people still do not have equal access to water and this has been described as an impending

water crisis. According to the United Nations, access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation is

essential for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (UN, 2006). It is a

fundamental requirement for effective primary health care and a precondition for success in fighting

poverty, hunger, child mortality, gender inequality and environmental damage.

What is Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)?

IWRM is the sustainable development, allocation and monitoring of water resource use in the context

of social, economic and environmental objectives (Cap-Net, 2005a). It is cross-sectoral and therefore

in stark contrast to the traditional sectoral approach that has been adopted by many countries. It has

been further broadened to incorporate participatory decision-making of all stakeholders.

IWRM is a paradigm shift. It departs from traditional approaches in three ways:

• The multiple goals and objectives are cross-cutting so that IWRM departs from the traditional

sectoral approach.

• The spatial focus is on the river basin instead of on single water course.

• The failure to recognize interdependency, coupled with unregulated use, can lead to water

wastage and the unsustainability of water resources developed for various uses.

Different user groups (farmers, communities, environmentalists and others) may influence strategies

for water resource development and management. It brings additional benefits, as informed users

apply local self-regulation in relation to issues such as water conservation and protection of

catchments far more effectively than central regulation and surveillance.

The term ‘management’ is used in its broadest sense, in that it highlights the need to not only focus

on the development of water resources, but also to consciously manage water development that

ensures sustainable use for future generations.

IWRM occurs in a holistic framework, dealing with:

� All water (spatial);

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� All interests (social);

� All stakeholders (participatory);

� All levels (administrative);

� All relevant disciplines (organizational);

� Sustainability (in all senses: environmental, political, social, cultural, economic,

financial and legal).

The framework is so broad, that it can create environmental, institutional, social, technical and

financial sustainability through the creation of a platform for government and stakeholders for planning

and implementation, and to deal with conflicts of interests.

The analysis should take account of social, environmental and economic objectives; evaluate the

status of water resources within each basin; and assess the level and composition of projected

demand. Special attention should be given to the views of all stakeholders.

Importance of IWRM for adaptation to climate change

Water is the first sector to be affected by changes in climate. Climate change leads to intensification

of the hydrological cycle and subsequently it has serious effects on the frequency and intensity of

extreme events. Sea level rise, increased evaporation, unpredictable precipitation and prolonged

droughts are just a few manifestations of climate variability directly impacting on availability and

quality of water. Integrated approaches to water resources management and development are critical

for progress towards a green economy.

Land Resources Management

Land is normally defined as a physical entity in terms of its topography and spatial nature; a broader

integrative view also includes natural resources: the soils, minerals, water and biota that the land

comprises. These components are organized in ecosystems which provide a variety of services

essential to the maintenance of the integrity of life-support systems and the productive capacity of the

environment. Land resources are used in ways that take advantage of all these characteristics. Land

is a finite resource, while the natural resources it supports can vary over time and according to

management conditions and uses. Expanding human requirements and economic activities are

placing ever increasing pressures on land resources, creating competition and conflicts and resulting

in suboptimal use of both land and land resources. If, in the future, human requirements are to be met

in a sustainable manner, it is now essential to resolve these conflicts and move towards more

effective and efficient use of land and its natural resources. Integrated physical and land-use planning

and management is an eminently practical way to achieve this. By examining all uses of land in an

integrated manner, it makes it possible to minimize conflicts, to make the most efficient trade-offs and

to link social and economic development with environmental protection and enhancement, thus

helping to achieve the objectives of sustainable development. The essence of the integrated

approach finds expression in the coordination of the sectoral planning and management activities

concerned with the various aspects of land use and land resources.

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Land resources are used for a variety of purposes which interact and may compete with one another;

therefore, it is desirable to plan and manage all uses in an integrated manner. Integration should take

place at two levels, considering, on the one hand, all environmental, social and economic factors

(including, for example, impacts of the various economic and social sectors on the environment and

natural resources) and, on the other, all environmental and resource components together (i.e., air,

water, biota, land, geological and natural resources). Integrated consideration facilitates appropriate

choices and trade-offs, thus maximizing sustainable productivity and use. Opportunities to allocate

land to different uses arise in the course of policy decisions of the state Government. This in turn

provides opportunities to support traditional patterns of sustainable land management or to assign

protected status for conservation of biological diversity or critical ecological services. Mizoram’s recent

land use policy is a glaring example in this context.

The World Bank defines sustainable land management as a process in a charged environment

between environmental protection and the guarantee claim of ecosystem services on the one hand.

On the other hand, it is about productivity of agriculture and forestry with respect to demographic

growth and increasing pressure in land use.

Sustainable Land Management (SLM) is defined as a knowledge-based procedure that helps

integrate land, water, biodiversity, and environmental management (including input and output

externalities) to meet rising food and fiber demands while sustaining ecosystem services and

livelihoods. SLM is necessary to meet the requirements of a growing population. Improper land

management can lead to land degradation and a significant reduction in the productive and service

(biodiversity niches, hydrology, carbon sequestration) functions of watersheds and landscapes.

Hill and Mountainous Agro-Eco-zones

Hilly and mountainous areas in India are vastly distributed all over the country with a large area

located in the Himalayas, extending to 2,500 km in length and 250 to 400 km in breadth. The area

under the Hill-Mountain zones essentially covers North Western Himalayas (NWH) and North Eastern

Himalayas (NEH) regions of India. Areas under the nomenclature of Hill and Mountain Zones are

located in various state of the country, viz. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana,

Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,

Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura,

Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Over 35% of the total geographical area of the country has slope

above 15%.

Himalayas alone are further classified in three major categories comprising:

(i) Western Himalayas alone are further classified in three major categories comprising:

(ii) Central Himalayas: eight hill districts of Uttaranchal

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(iii) Northeast Himalayas: Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal

Pradesh, Mizoram, hilly areas of Assam and Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

Longitudinally, Himalayas are also classified as Shiwaliks flat summits (600-1,200 m maen sea- level

altitude), middle Himalayas (65-75 km width, average height 3,000 m, tangled mass of ranges and

valleys with major rivers cutting across it), Greater Himalayas (average altitude 5,200m m.s.l., 92

peaks over 8,000 m m.s.I) and Trans-Himalayas (Average width 60km, average altitude 4,500 mm

.s.I). Besides this mighty hilly and mountainous zone, hills also extend or exist in other states.

The climate of North Western Himalayan region ranges from hot and sub-humid tropical in the

sourthern low tracts to temperate cold alpine and cold arid in the northern high mountain, While

rainfall as low as 8 cm (cold desert), an annual precipitation of 250 cm is recorded in certain areas of

Himachal Pradesh. The North Eastern Himalayan region (area 2.75 Mha, constituting 8.36 per cent

of the Indian sub-continent) experiences high rainfall.

The North –eastern region comprising the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,

Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura covers 2,62,179 sq.km. It has a wide range of climate,

physiography, geology and vegetation that influence the formation of different kinds of soils. Here an

attempt ahs been made to present different kinds of soils by characterizing and classifying them along

with their distribuition.

PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGION OF N. E STATES

Physiographically the region may be represented by four distinct zones viz. Brahmaputra, Eastern

Himalayas, Purvanchal and Meghalaya plateau. Brahmaputra valley (250

44’ to 27

055

’ N and 88

0 41

’ to

960

02’ E) is a well demarcated physical unit within the girdle formed by Eastern Himalaya, Patkai and

Naga Hills and Garo-Khasi-Jaintia and Mikir hills. Eastern Himalaya (26040’to 29

0 40’ to 29

030’ N and

88002 to 97

0 05’ E) covers an area of 122, 802 km

2 comprising Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal

Pradesh.

SOIL OF NORTH –EASTERN REGION

Soil resources of north-eastern states have been mapped following a 3-tier approach (Sehgal, 1990;

Sehgal et al, 1987; Sarma et al, 1987) through image interpretation, field surveys, cartography and

printing. During field survey soil-physiography relationship have been established. Soils have been

mapped on physiography bases (1:250,000 scale) to show their distribuition. They have been

characterized and classified as per soil taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff 1975).

Table 1. Distribution of soil orders in NE region

Soil order Arunachal

Pradesh

Assam Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagala

nd

Sikkim Tripura

Entisol 2985.5* 2640.1 515.6 10.9 444.6 121.3 237.14 85.4

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(35.64)** (36.6) (23.1) (0.49) (21.06) (3.65) (42.52) (8.13)

Inceptisol 3126.4

(37.36)

3245.3

(45.00)

858.2

(37.95)

999.2

(45.65)

1029.91

(48.80)

1094.7

(66.15)

238.89

(42.83)

845.9

(80.55)

Alfosols 22.8

(0.27)

886.9

(12.37)

3.8

(0.20)

80.7

(3.6)

82.4

(3.42)

47.8

(2.89)

-

-

47.1

(4.49)

Ultisols 1187.2

(14.16)

436.5

(5.9)

811.1

(36.4)

898.3

(40.04)

553.2

(18.16)

391.0

(23.64)

- 69.0

(6.56)

Mollisols - - - - - - 81.66

(14.64)

*Area in thousand hectare (‘000ha)

**Percentage of the state.

Five soil orders have been identified in this region viz. Entisols, Inceptisols, Alfisols, Utisols

and Mollisols. Inceptisols are the most extensive soil order which cover 11431.5 th. Ha

representing 43.60 percent of the area of north-eastern regionfollowed by Entisols by 7040.54

th.ha (26.85 percent), Utisols by 4346.3 th.ha (16.58 percent), Alfisols by 1171.5 th.ha (4.47

percent) and Mollisols by 81.66 th.ha (0.31 percent). Distribuition of Soil orders indicates that

Inceptisols are dominant order in all the states (Table 1), Ulfisols are second dominant soils in

Manipur (36.4 percent), Meghalaya (40.04 percent) and Nagaland (23.64 percent). Mollisols

have been identified in Sikkim covering 81.66 th. Ha (14.64 percent) in middle and lower hills.

A total of 71 subgroups have been identified in 29 great groups under five soil orders (Table

2).

Inceptisols the most extensive soil order covering 11431.5 th. Ha have been divided into 6

great groups followed by 27subgroups. Entisols covering 7040.54 th.ha have been identified

with 8 great groups further divided into 18 subgroups. Utisols with 4346.3 th. Ha are grouped

under 8 great groups followed by 13 subgroups. Alfisols covering an area of 1171.5 th. Ha

have 4 great groups with 6 subgroups. Three great groups have been identified in Mollisols

with 7 subgroups.

Soils of Assam

Inceptisols are most extensive soils grouped under 3 great groups viz. Dystrudepts,

Endoaquepts and Eutrudepts covering 1701.3, 898.4 and 645.6 thousand ha respectively

(sen et al. 1999). Typic Dystrudepts is the dominant sub groups covering 1104.8 thousand

hectare. Five great groups viz. Fluvaquents, Endoaquents, Udipsamments, Udifluvents and

Udorthents have been divided into nine subgroups which cover a total area of 2640. I

thousand hectares (36.6% of the state). Alfisols have been grouped into three great groups

viz . Kanhapludalfs, Paleudalfs

which have been further subdivided into four subgroups. Four great groups viz Kandihumults,

Haplohumults, Paleudults and Hapludults have been identified in Utisols which have been

further subdivided into four subgroups covering a total of 436.5 thousand hectares.

Soils of Arunachal Pradesh

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A total of 10 subgroups have been identified in three great groups viz. Endoaquept,

Eutrudepts and Dystrudepts of Inceptisols covering 3126.0 thousand hectares in Arunachal

Pradesh (Nayak et al. 1996). Dystrudepts, the most extensive great group covering 2562.0

th.ha are subdivided into 5 subgroups. Great groups Paleudalfs with subgroups Typic

Paleudalfs represent Alfisols. Entisols have five great groups which have been further

subdivided into nine subgroups. Lithic Udorthents sub-group is the most extensive soils of

Arunachal Pradesh which covers 1465.9 th. ha. Six great groups of UItisols with seven

subgroups covers an area of 1186.6 th. ha.

Soils of Manipur

Soils of Manipur dominantly belong to inceptisols and Ultisols covering 858.2 th. ha (37.95

percent) and 811.1 th. ha (36.40 percent of the state area respectively (sen et. al, 1996). 10

great groups with a total of 12 subgroups have been identified in the state. Typic Udorthents

under Entisols cover an area of 515.6 th. ha. Haplohumults. Paleudults and identified in the

state. Typic Udorthents under Entisols cover an area of 515.6 th. ha. Haplohumults,

Paleudults and Kanjhapludults are the dominant great groups which cover 100.7, 197.1,

153.0 th.ha of the state respectively.

Soils of Meghalaya

A total of 12 great groups have been identified in four soil order in Meghalaya (Singh et. al,

1996). Six great groups of Utisol cover total areas of 884.8 th. ha. Four great groups of

Inceptisols have been further subdivided subgroups. Dystrudepts the dominant freat group

covering 685.3 th. ha are characterized with <60% base saturation and cambic horizon. Ultic

Hapludalfs have been identified at subgroup level under Alfisols order which cover an area of

80.7 th. ha. Udifluvents are the characteristic soils under Entisols occurring in 10.9 th. ha in

between interhill valleys and lower river terraces.

Soils of Nagaland

Typic Dystudepts and Humic Dystrudepts are the most extensive subgroup soils of Nagaland

covers 467.2 th.ha and sive leaching of soils associated with low base saturation. Udorthents

and Udifluvent are two great groups identified in Entisols which covers 60.9 th.ha and 60.4

th.ha respectively.

Soils of Tripura

21 subgroups have been identified under 4 soil orders in Tripura state (Bhatthacharyya et.al,

1996). Typic Dystrudepts covering 403.5 th ha are dominant subgroup characterized with

ochric epipedon and low base saturation (<60%). Typic Hapludults covers an area of 39.8

th.ha. An area of 132.9 ha is covered by Epiaquepts subgroup characterized by episaturation

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of aquic condition. Aeric Epiuaquents, a typical soil under Entisols have been identified in

Tripura which covers 0.5 th.ha. of aquic condition. Aeric Epiaquents, a typical soil under

Entisols have been identified in Tripura which covers 0.5 th. ha of aquic condition. Aeric

Epiaquents. A typical soil under Entisols have been identified in Tripura which covers 0.5

th.ha

Soils of Sikkim

Soils of Sikkim belong to 3 orders viz. Inceptisols, Entisols and Mollisols covering 42.83

percent, 420.52 percent anf 14.64 percent area of the state respectively. In total, 11 great

groups and 24 subgroups have been identified in the state (Das et. al. 1996). Soils are acidic,

somewhat excessively to excessively drained, coarse loamy to fine loamy in texture. They are

high in organic carbon content and medium to low in base saturation percentage. Humic

Dystrudepts and Pachic Humic Dystrudepts occurs in summit and ridges. Typic Hapludolls,

Dystric Eutrudepts occur in side slope of hills (50% slope). Typic Argiudolls are characterized

with clay enriched in B horizon and mostly occur in sides lope of hills with 30-50% slope.

Typic cryorthents, Lithic cryorthents and Lithic Dystocryepts extensively occur in the northern

and eastern part of state in cryic soil moisture regime.

Land Evaluation

Land evaluation is a process of evaluating the soils with a view to assess its production

potentiality (Dent and Young, 1981; FAO, 1976). Based on soil characteristic they are

assessed and rated on a defined scale of adoptability and suitability for forestry, agro-forestry,

pasture, agricultural crops, horticultural crops, pisciculture, silviculture etc. Information’s on

climate, landforms, soils, geology, suitability of different farming system are put in GIS

environment and optimum land use plan at desired scale are obtained. Climate, topography,

soil physical condition, soil fertility are the important parameters which are considered during

Land evaluation.

Conclusion

In the Hilly Areas, Integrated approach seems to be the solution to manage the fragile land

resources, variable water resources and threatened eco-systems and bio-diversity. India’s

decision to make the country degradation neutral is a welcome step. This goal can not be

achieved unless the hilly areas are specifically targeted and programmes are drawn up. The

Mizoram’s NLUP model, Meghlaya’ IBDLP model are well conceived and their implementation

during last three years is quite encouraging. The best of different models should be

understood and dovetailed for integrated and co-ordinated management of land and water

resources. In Mizoram, there is a need to constitute a state level water authority with one of

the mandate to collect data on different river basins and plan for integrated management of

land and water in Mizoram.

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Similarly in other North-Eastern States, State water policy, State Perspective plan for making

the State land degradation neutral may have to be formulated.

The North Eastern Council, a Regional Planning body working for eight North Eastern States

may initiate exercise to develop regional plan regarding management of water resources

(Irrigation, Flood and Errosion Control, Watershed management, Restoration of water bodies)

and land resources (Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fishery).

The Land and water Resources though have their own expanses but while taking up

management, integrated approach offers many advantages.

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COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY OF NEW LAND USE POLICY (NLUP),

GOVT. OF MIZORAM

By

NLUP Implementing Board

INTRODUCTION:

With the objective of attaining the goal of inclusive development, the Govt. of Mizoram

prepared a proposal for a paradigm shift in the management of two critical resources: land

and water, under the New Land Use Policy (NLUP). This policy aims at gradually changing

the practice of jhuming with a new pattern of land use, empowerment of people, preservation

of the environment, adoption of effective water harvesting measures and commercial

utilization of abundant resources.

OBJECTIVES OF NEW LAND USE PROJECT:

1) Adoption of New Land Use Pattern keeping in view short term, medium term and long

term livelihood requirements of the poor farmers, artisans and others.

2) To restore ecological balance through rejuvenation of forest cover, improvement of

surface and water management, introduction of new forest and land management

system.

3) Food security for all.

4) To wean away farmers from Jhuming practices to adopt sustainable on farm and off

farm economic activities.

5) To introduce commercial farming in lieu of subsistance farming/cultivation

6) To improve income level of urban and rural poor through sustainable farming

activities, Micro enterprise & Cottage industries.

7) Socio-economic transformation development.

8) To increase productivity through introduction of high yielding variety,

mixed/doubled/multiple cropping system, adoption of better technology in cultivation,

etc.

IMPORTANT FEATURES OF NLUP

Cluster approach : Mizoram is divided into 40 clusters. District wise number of clusters is

as follows :-

(i) Mamit – 3 (v) Serchhip – 3

(ii) Kolasib – 3 (vi) Lunglei - 7

(iii) Aizawl – 14 (vii) Lawngtlai – 3

(iv) Champhai – 5 (viii) Saiha – 2

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Comprehensive Land Reforms:

i) To link up the new customary land holding system with sustainable development.

ii) To conduct detail survey of land for preparation of land records

iii) Land settlement

iv) Introduction of New Land holding, Ownership and Management System

v) Formulation & enactment of new Tenancy Law

Other Important features :

i) It is both inclusive and transformation development initiatives.

ii) It is multipurpose, multi-disciplinary and village-based and district-based integrated

Planning for reconstruction of rural economy

iii) It is both an integrated and family-oriented programme also aiming at strengthening of

traditional community bonds. Adoption of integrated Project planning & management

iv) Implementation will be on cluster approach basis

v) Adoption of integrated Project planning & management at both Village & District level

vi) Market tie-up arrangement including value addition through processing, etc

New Land Use Pattern Envisaged :

i) 60% of land to be earmarked as Dense/Rain Forest

ii) 10% of land for Community Reserved Forest

(if not already Reserved Forest area) for protection of catchment area of rivers and

water supply sources.

iii) 10% of land for firewood, timber etc Reserved Forest to meet community consumption

requirement of villages

iv) 15% of land for cultivation under NLUP

v) 5% of land for habitation, industrial area, roads, etc

STRATEGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION & IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:

Structural organization: To facilitate integrated planning, co-ordinate implementation and

monitoring a 3-tier body has been created by the State Government as follows:-

(i) NLUP Apex Board: The Chief Minister is the Chairman of the Apex Board. Vice

Chairman is appointed among the MLA and Chief Secretary is the Secretary of Apex

Board.

(ii) NLUP Implementing Board (NIB): The NIB is the Executive body of NLUP. The

Vice Chairman of the Apex Board is designated as Chairman of the NLUP

Implementing Board (NIB) holding the rank of Cabinet Minister. Member &

Secretary of State Planning Board has been designated as Vice Chairman.

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(iii) District Level NLUP Committee: The Deputy Commissioner is the Chairman

and members include district officers of the NLUP Line Departments and

prominent citizens as nominated members.

(iv) Village Level NLUP Committee: The Committee is constituted to select

beneficiaries and to monitor the implementation of NLUP at village level.

Scheme Components:

(i) There are three main components in the implementation of NLUP as below:

(a) Management Component.

(b) Development Component.

(c) Infrastructure Component.

(ii) Convergence : In order to avoid duplication of certain schemes under Centrally

Sponsored Schemes (CSS) the project envisaged convergence of NLUP schemes

with some CSS such as :-

(a) NREGS (for potential area connectivity road/Agri-link road, Water harvesting,

construction of Rajiv Gandhi Sevak Kendra building in the NLUP villages,

Forestry, godown construction etc.).

(b) National Technology Mission for North East India;

(c) Bamboo Mission;

(d) National Mission on Medicinal Plants;

(e) Border Region Grant Fund;

(f) National Fishery Development Board;

(g) Rubber & Coffee Board;

(h) Renewable energy schemes under Ministry of New & Renewable

Energy;

(i) National Rain Fed Authority of India ;

(j) Central schemes under AH & Vety Department, Govt. of India;

(k) Any other suitable Central scheme where matching share contribution from

the State is involved.

(iii) Subsidiary occupation: In order to enhance income of farmers, and to support

farmers taking up long gestation crops like rubber, orange, etc subsidiary occupation will be

taken up in addition to the main trade/activities, in partnership with NABARD, Banks, etc. This

will also enhance credit flow of funds for agricultural activities to make it monitorable so that

recovery of loan, advanced by the banks, will improve substantially due to joint monitoring

between the banks and the Govt. department including the NLUP Implementing Board.

In addition, substantial investment is expected from the banks for infrastructure

development, Micro-enterprises, food processing and other cottage and small industries

expected to be set up to process the various agro produces.

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Strategy for Implementation: Clear cut demarcation of functions and responsibilities for the

State Level, District Level and Village level Committees have been made to avoid conflict and

overlapping. The Village Level NLUP Committee is responsible for:

(i) Preparation of land use plan for the every village,

(ii) Demarcation of Forest Reserved Area, individual land and Community land

(iii) Identification of catchment area for development as Community Forest Reserve (for

non-forest reserve area only)

(iv) Identification and selection of compact are for cultivation

(v) Selection of beneficiaries

(vi) Allotment of land to beneficiaries (by the Village Council)

(vii) Preparation of village level project, action plan, implementation plan etc.

Village Projects compiled at District level will form the District Plan. State plan will incorporate

the District plans. The District Level Committee will facilitate the preparation of village level

projects, implementation plans and actions, through the experts/staff of the Line Departments

and the BDOs. It will also facilitate, supervise and monitor implementation of the activities.

Implementing Agency: The Schemes under each sector will be implemented by the line

department concerned. Nodal Officer of the rank of Jt. Director or 'above have been

designated in all the concerned Departments exclusively for project formulation,

implementation, monitoring, co-ordination, etc.

Preparatory Work: A Natural Resources Atlas has been prepared, using remote sensing

satellite data indicating rainfall, temperature, drainage, water sheds, geomorphological

features, geological features, ground water potential, land use/land cover, soil types and other

relevant resource data. The Officers and Staff of the Line Departments have been given

training.

State level workshop has been organized for training of Ministers, MLAs, top level senior

officers, public leaders, NGO leaders and various other stake holders to educate them in the

concept, framework, main features, strategy for implementation and monitoring and various

other aspects.

District level workshop has been organized for members of Village Councils, Village Level

Committee, District Level Committee, other public leaders in all the Districts to explain detail

about NLUP including project formulation, strategy for implementation, role of the various

committees, the concerned departments and other relevant details.

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EXPECTED OUTCOME:

i) Switching over of Jhuming to permanent and sustainable livelihood activities with

higher income.

ii) The judicious mix of Agri-horticultural activities, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Agro-

forestry, Micro-enterprise etc is expected to increase income by 4-6 times (compared

to jhuming).

iii) The overall growth of the economy (SDP) to 16% from the 10th year against average

growth rate of about 6% during the last ten years.

iv) After 10 years the per capita income will increase.

v) Strengthen community bonds through integrated Socio-economic development.

vi) The programme envisages increase in rain forest cover, favorable ecological balance

and eco-friendly sustainable development within 5-10 years of implementations.

vii) Food security will be ensured.

viii) It will restore ecological balance through rejuvenation of forest cover, improvement of

surface and ground water management, introduction of new forest and land

management system.

(ix) NLUP will also bring about the most comprehensive land reforms in the NER, where

customary Land Holding System prevails till date. It will have the following features:

(a) Customary/Tribal land holding system will be linked up with sustainable development.

More than 99% of Mizoram is yet to be surveyed and records are yet to be prepared.

Survey will be conducted for the whole State and land records will prepared,

(b) Land settlement will be made.

(c) New Land holding system and new ownership pattern will be introduced along with

land and water management system.

(d) New tenancy law will be formulated and enacted.

(e) For restoration of ecological balance hill top area, higher elevations etc will be given

priority for forest reserve.

(f) Water harvesting system will be taken up to improve surface and ground water

management, water recharging system and moisture content of the soil.

15

PROGRAMS BY AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT (CROP HUSBANDARY), GOVT. OF MIZORAM

By

Directorate of Agriculture (CH), Mizoram

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY):

Concerned by the slow growth in the Agriculture and allied sectors, the National Development Council

(NDC), in its meeting held on 29th May, 2007 resolved that a special Additional Central Assistance

Scheme (RKVY) be launched. The NDC resolved that agricultural development strategies must be

reoriented to meet the needs of farmers and called upon the Central and State governments to evolve

a strategy to rejuvenate agriculture. Accordingly, the Department of Agriculture, in compliance of the

above resolution and in consultation with the Planning Commission, has prepared the guidelines for

the RKVY scheme, to be known as NADP (RKVY). RKVY aims at achieving and sustaining desired

annual growth during the XII Plan period by ensuring a holistic development of Agriculture and Allied

Sectors.

Basic Features: The main objectives of the schemes are:

(i) To incentivise the states so as to increase public investment in Agriculture and allied

sectors.

(ii) To provide flexibility and autonomy to states in the process of planning and executing

Agriculture and allied sector schemes.

(iii) To ensure the preparation of agriculture plans for the districts and the states based

on agro-climatic conditions, availability of technology and natural resources.

(iv) To ensure that the local needs/crops/priorities are better reflected in the agricultural

plans of the states.

(v) To achieve the goal of reducing the yield gaps in important crops, through focused

interventions.

(vi) To maximize returns to the farmers in Agriculture and allied sectors.

(vii) To bring about quantifiable changes in the production and productivity of various

components of Agriculture and allied sectors by addressing them in a holistic manner.

Programme Components (Streams):

RKVY funds are being provided to the States as 100 % grants by the Central Government in the

following Streams.

(a) RKVY (Production Growth) with 35 % of annual outlay.

(b) RKVY (Infrastructure and Assets) with 35 % of annual outlay.

(c) RKVY (Special Schemes) with 20 % of annual outlay and

(d) RKVY (Flexi Funds) with 10 % of annual outlay (State can undertake either production

Growth or Infrastructure & Assets Projects with this allocation depending upon State

specific needs/priorities.

16

RKVY (Production Growth): States can take up any project under this stream to raise production

and productivity in Agriculture and allied sectors. This will normally include all food crop activities,

including distribution of Agricultural inputs, extension, soil health, plant health & integrated Pest

Management, production and distribution of seeds, animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries, raining

and skill development of stakeholders, production specific research projects, information

dissemination etc.

RKVY (Infrastructure & Assets): This will normally include projects selected on the basis of

normative requirement of infrastructure, actual availability thereof and the gap in agriculture

infrastructure in the State viz setting up of laboratories and testing facilities, storage including cold

storages, mobile vans, agriculture marketting etc.

RKVY (Special Schemes): This will comprise of schemes based on national priorities as notified by

Government of India from time to time. In the event of Government of India not declaring any special

scheme in a year or the aggregate amount earmarked for such special schemes falling short of 20 %

of the RKVY budgetary allocation for the year, the remaining amount will be allocated additionally to

RKVY (Produciton growth Stream) funds.

RKVY (Flexi Funds): State can undertake either production Growth or Infrastructure & Assets

Projects with this allocation depending upon State specific needs/priorities.

Implementation of RKVY Scheme in Mizoram:

Increased in the total State Plan fund expenditure towards Agriculture and Allied sector has made

Mizoram eligible to avail RKVY scheme which is attributed by the implementation of New Land Use

Policy during 2009-10. In Mizoram, RKVY scheme have been implemented since 2010-11. Since

then, various progressess and improvement has been made towards Agriculture, Horticulture,

Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Sericulture. The total funds released by the Government

of India for implementation of RKVY is as below:

2010-11: Rs.374.50 lakh

2011-12: Rs. 3,663.00 lakh

2012-13: Rs. 18,473.00 lakh

2013-14: Rs. 7,741.00 lakh

2014-15 (Interim Alllocation) : Rs. 10,342.00 lakh under Production Growth + Infrastructure & Asset +

Flexi fund. Fund allocation under sub-schemes namely Vegetable Initiative on Urban Cluster (VIUC)

and National Mission for Protein Supplement (NMPS) is still a waited.

RKVY is being implemented by the following Departments/Agencies in the State:

Agriculture Department (Crop Husbandry)

Agriculture Department (Research & Education)

Horticulture Department

Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department

Fisheries Department

Soil & Water Conservation Department

Sericulture

17

MIFCO

Lai Autonomous District Council

Mara Autonomous District Council

Chakma Autonomous District Council

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY MISSION (NFSM):

The National Development Council (NDC) in its 53rd meeting held on 29th May, 2007

adopted a resolution to launch a Food Security Mission comprising rice, wheat and pulses to increase

the annual production of rice by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons and pulses by 2 million tons

by the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12). Accordingly, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, 'National

Food Security Mission' (NFSM), was launched in October 2007. The Mission met with an

overwhelming success and achieved the targeted additional production of rice, wheat and pulses.

The Mission is being continued during 12th Five Year Plan with new targets of additional production of

food grains of 25 million tons of food grains comprising of 10 million tons rice, 8 million tons of wheat,

4 million tons of pulses and 3 million tons of coarse cereals by the end of 12th Five Year Plan. The

National Food Security Mission (NFSM) during the 12th Five Year Plan have five components (i)

NFSM- Rice; (ii) NFSM-Wheat; (iii) NFSM-Pulses, (iv) NFSM-Coarse cereals and (v) NFSM-

Commercial Crops.

In Mizoram, NFSM was implemented since 2012-13 covering only Rice crop for two

consecutive years (i.e 2012-13 & 2013-14). Since 2014-15, with the modificatin of the Guideline,

NFSM scheme have now covered Rice, Pulses and Coarse Cereals.

Objectives:

• Increasing production of rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals through area expansion and productivity

enhancement in a sustainable manner in the identified districts of the country;

• Restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level; and

• Enhancing farm level economy (i.e. farm profits) to restore confidence amongst the farmers.

Strategy

To achieve the above objectives, the Mission would adopt following strategies:

i.) Focus on low productivity and high potential districts including cultivation of food grain

crops in rain fed areas.

ii.) Implementation of cropping system centric interventions in a Mission mode approach

through active engagement of all the stakeholders at various levels.

iii.) Agro-climatic zone wise planning and cluster approach for crop productivity

enhancement.

iv.) Focus on pulse production through utilization of rice fallow, rice bunds and intercropping

of pulses with coarse cereals, oilseeds and commercial crops (sugarcane, cotton, jute).

v.) Promotion and extension of improved technologies i.e., seed, Integrated Nutrient

Management (INM) including micronutrients, soil amendments, Integrated Pest

18

Management (IPM), input use efficiency and resource conservation technologies along

with capacity building of the farmers/extension functionaries.

vi.) Close monitoring of flow of funds to ensure timely reach of interventions to the target

beneficiaries.

vii.) Integration of various proposed interventions and targets with the district plan of each

identified district.

viii.) Constant monitoring and concurrent evaluation by the implementing agencies for

assessing the impact of the interventions for a result oriented approach.

Implementation of NFSM in Mizoram:

There is a tremendous improvement in Crop production especially in Rice due to the

implementation of NFSM since 2012-13. Dissemination of improved technology through cluster

demonstration, imparting knowledge on crop cultivation technology among farmers through cropping

system based training and supply of critical inputs like improved seeds/hybrid seeds, micronutrients

and plant protection chemicals are the main contributing factors for crop production improvement in

the State. During 2014-15, the following districts are covered under NFSM:

District NFSM District

NFSM-Rice NFSM-Pulses NFSM-Coarse Cereals

Aizawl - � �

Lunglei � � �

Saiha - � �

Champhai � �

Kolasib � �

Serchhip � � �

Lawngtlai � � �

Mamit � �

Following are details of fund utilization during 2012-13, 2013-14 & 2014-15 (interim budget)

Year Budget layout (Rs. In lakh)

2012-13 604.00

2013-14 750.00

2014-15 (interim outlay) 750.00

19

NEW LAND USE POLICY (NLUP):

PROGRESS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF NLUP :

Government of Mizoram with the approval of Planning Commission has launched a

Comprehensive Project for inclusive development called ‘New Land Use Policy (NLUP)’ termed as

Flagship Programme/Project. It focused mainly amongst others on a major overhaul of the economy

through structural changes by weaning away farmers from destructive Jhum practices to sustainable

livelihood opportunities based on local resources, genius of the people and keeping in view

regeneration of resources.

Under Development Components of Agriculture Sector, there are 4 (four) different types of

trades/activities that the beneficiaries can select-

1. Wet Rice Cultivation on Flat lands (0-10% slope) i.e WRC-I.

2. Wet Rice Cultivation on Slope lands (10-25% slope) i.e. WRC-II.

3. Oil Palm Cultivation.

4. Sugarcane Cultivation.

As per the approved Calendar of works/Operations the rates of installments for the 4 (four)

trades are as follows-

Sl.No. Name of Trade Rate of Installment (in Rs.) Total

Amount

(In Rs.)

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

1. WRC-I 20000 45000 39000 16000 1,20,000

2. WRC-II 20000 44000 28000 44000 1,36,000

3. Oil Palm 20000 40000 28000 12000 1,00,000

4. Sugarcane 20000 32000 20000 28000 1,00,000

The Physical Achievement under Development Components of NLUP in respect of

Agriculture Sector is as below (as on 25/10/2013)-

Sl.No. Phase Trade/Activity Total (in

No.) WRC-I WRC-II Oil Palm Sugarcane

1. 1st

Phase 3347 1949 404 325 6025

2. 2nd

Phase 2914 3074 1260 327 7575

3 3rd

Phase 1692 2100 453 345 4590

4. 4th Phase 824 847 173 58 1902

TOTAL 8777 7970 2290 1055 20092

20

The impact on the achievement due to the implementation of NLUP in respect of Agriculture

Sector can be summarized as below-

1) Expansion of rice cultivation areas:

Due to the implementation of WRC-I and WRC-II trades under NLUP, the rice

cultivation areas increases from 11,198 Ha. during 2008-09 to that of 14,636 Ha.

during 2012-13 which accounts for about 30% increase in rice cultivation areas.

2) Increase in Rice Production:

Rice production during 2008-09 in Mizoram is recorded as 48,242 metric tone

(in terms of Rice) whereas during 2012-13, it increases to 57,700 metric tones which

also accounts for about 19% increase in rice production.

3) Decrease in Jhum Areas:

The primary objective of NLUP is to provide sustainable income to farming

families by weaning them away from the destructive and unprofitable shifting

cultivation practices. Jhum area as recorded during 2008-09 is 40,792 Ha. which

decreases to about 40% i.e 24,706 Ha. during 2012-13 due to the introduction of

NLUP

4) Expansion in Oil Palm cultivation areas:

During the year 2008, the total area covered under Oil Palm cultivation is 959

Ha. and was increased to 12,097 Ha. during the year 2013. This is due to the

introduction of Oil Palm cultivation trade under NLUP in Agriculture Sector. (till date

the total number of Oil Palm beneficiaries under NLUP is recorded as 2290 nos.)

5) Improvement in Farm Mechanization Programme:

Due to the convergence of RKVY Scheme with NLUP, a huge number of

farm machineries like Power Tiller, Tractor, Mini-Power Tiller etc. were distributed to

NLUP beneficiaries at a subsidized rate. The Man Power generation as recorded

during 2008-09 is 0.45 kilowatt per Ha. which was also increased to 0.80 kilowatt per

Ha. during 2012-13. This will result in boosting-up of rice production and productivity

in Mizoram State.

6) Construction of Potential Area Connectivity:

Due to the convergence of NLUP with RKVY Scheme, at present the total

length of Potential Area Connectivity (PAC) already constructed is 625 km. This will

also greatly result in increase in the production of rice and other crops in one way or

the other.

21

YEAR WISE ALLOCATION OF FUND UNDER NLUP:

Year Fund

Allocation

Fund Released to Amount

in

lakh (Rs.)

Remarks

2009-10 428.00 NLUP Implementing

Board

428.00 Management Component

2010-11 9114.20

(1) NLUP Implementing

Board

1562.20 Management Component

(2) Agriculture Dept.

(1st Phase)

7552.00 Development Component

2011-12 12519.72

(1) NLUP Implementing

Board 1500.00

Management Component -

Rs.1000 lakhs and

Infrastructure Component -

Rs.500 lakhs

(2) Industries Dept. 9019.72 Development Component

(3) Rural Development

Dept. 2000.00 Development Component

2012-13 9756.00

(1) NLUP Implementing

Board 3500.00

Management Component -

Rs.1000 lakhs and

Infrastructure Component -

Rs.2500 lakhs

(2) Agriculture Dept.

(2nd

Phase) 6256.00 Development Component

2013-14 9,030.00

(1) NLUP Implementing

Board

3000.00

Management Component -

Rs.1200 lakhs and

Infrastructure Component

- Rs.1800 lakhs

(2) Agriculture

Department

6030.00

Development Component

NATIONAL MISSION ON OIL SEED AND OIL PALM (NMOOP):

Background:

During the last few years, the domestic consumption of edible oils has increased substantially

and has touched the level of 18.90 million tonnes in 2011-12 and is likely to increase further. With per

capita consumption of vegetable oils at the rate of 16 kg/year/person for a projected population of

1276 million, the total vegetable oils demand is likely to touch 20.4 million tonnes by 2017. A

substantial portion of our requirement of edible oil is met through import of palm oil from Indonesia

and Malaysia. It is, therefore, necessary to exploit domestic resources to maximize production to

22

ensure edible oil security for the country. Considering the urgency to improve domestic vegetable oil

production, the Government of India proposed NMOOP to be implemented during 12th plan.

Mission Targets:

National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) envisages increase in production of

vegetable oils sourced from oilseeds, oil palm and TBOs from 7.06 million tones (average of 2007-08

to 2011-12) to 9.51 million tones by the end of Twelfth Plan (2016-17). The Mission is proposed to be

implemented through three Mini Missions with specific target as detailed below:

Mini Mission (MM) Target of 12th

Plan

MM -I on Oilseeds Achieve production of 35.51 million tones and productivity of 1328

kg/ha of oilseeds from the present average production & productivity

of 28.93 million tones and 1081 kg/ha during the 11th Plan period

respectively.

MM-II on Oil Palm Bring additional 1.25 lakh hectare area under oil palm cultivation

through area expansion approach in the States including utilization

of wastelands with increase in productivity of fresh fruit brunches

(FFBs) from 4927 kg per ha to 15000 kg per ha.

MM III on Tree Borne

Oilseeds

Enhance seed collection of TBOs from 9 lakh tones to 14 lakh tones

and to augment elite planting materials for area expansion under

waste land.

During 2014-15, Mizoram has been included under MM-II & III. However, due to certain

technical problems, only MM- II will be implemented by the State through Agriculture Department

(CH).

Strategy:

The strategy to implement the proposed Mission will include increasing Seed Replacement

Ratio (SRR) with focus on Varietal Replacement; increasing irrigation coverage under oilseeds from

26% to 36%; diversification of area from low yielding cereals crops to oilseeds crops; inter-cropping

of oilseeds with cereals/ pulses/ sugarcane; use of fallow land after paddy /potato cultivation;

expansion of cultivation of Oil Palm & TBOs in watersheds and wastelands; increasing availability of

quality planting materials of Oil Palm & TBOs; enhancing procurement of oilseeds and collection &

processing of TBOs. Inter cropping during gestation period of oil palm and TBOs would provide

economic return to the farmers when there is no production.

Funding Pattern and Fund Flow:

Cost of the interventions proposed under the Mission will be in the ratio of 75:25 between the

Central and the State Governments, except in case of few ongoing interventions like, purchase of

Breeder seeds, supply of seed minikits, infrastructure development for seed production through Public

Sector agencies like NSC, SFCI, SAUs including KVKs, for FLDs, procurement support to NAFED,

TRIFED; R&D support for ongoing research projects. Up to 1% of the funds allocated under the

23

Mission will be earmarked at national and state level to meet the contingency expenditure including

engagement of contractual manpower for monitoring of Implementation of the Mission.

As per the guidelines of Ministry of Finance, 10% of the Plan budget of NMOOP would be

earmarked as flexi-fund to meet the following objective:

(i) To provide flexibility to States to meet local needs and requirement within the overall

objective of NMOOP;

(ii) To pilot innovations and improved efficiency within the overall objective of the Scheme

and its expected outcomes;

(iii) To undertake mitigation/restoration activities in case of natural calamities in the oilseeds

sector.

Annual Action Plan of MM-II (Oil Palm) under NMOOP for 2014-15.

The Annual Action Plan for 2014-15 under NMOP has been finalized and submitted to the Ministry of

Agriculture for consideration and approval. Details are as given below:

Area proposed for Oil Palm Cultivation for next three years from 2014-15 to 2016-17 (in Ha.)

Sl.No. Year Area (in Ha.)

1. 2014-15 5700

2. 2015-16 5400

3. 2016-17 4600

Nos./Name of Disricts to be covered:

� Aizawl

� Lunglei

� Mamit

� Kolasib

� Serchhip

� Lawngtlai

� Saiha

24

Component Wise Physical & financial targets for Mini-Mission-II for the year 2014-15

Sl.

No

Components Units Approved rate

of Assistance

Sharing of

expenditure

Physical Financial targets

(Rs. In lakhs)

GOI

share

State

Share

Total

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

I Area Expansion

inputs:

a) Planting materials

(85% of the cost

limited to Rs. 8000/-

per Ha) including gap

filling of 130 Ha.

Ha Rs. 8000/-

per Ha 75:25

4000

( + 130

Ha for

gap filling

247.80 82.60 330.40

b) Maintenance cost

(i) 2nd

year

cultivation

(ii) 3rd

year

cultivation

Ha

Ha

Rs. 3500/ Ha

Rs. 4500/Ha

75:25

4530

3130

118.91

105.64

39.64

35.21

158.55

140.85

II Production Inputs 75:25

a) Supply of

Diesel/Electrical Pump

sets @ 50 % of the

cost limited to Rs.

15000/- per set

Nos. Rs. 15000/No 75:25 100 1.125 0.375 1.50

b) Water harvesting

Structures

Nos. Rs. 50000/

No

75:25 80 30.00 10.00 40.00

c) Establishment of Seed

Garden

No. First year @

Rs. 10.00

lakh per 15

Ha.)

75:25 15 7.50 2.50 10.00

d) Inputs for

intercropping

Ha Rs. 3000/Ha 75:25 2257 50.7825 16.9275 67.71

e) Machineries & Tools

(i) Oil Palm Cuter

(ii) Small Tractor with

trolley

No.

No.

Rs. 1500/Unit

Rs. 1.00

lakh/unit

75:25

509

10

5.73

7.50

1.87

2.50

7.635

10.00

III Special Components

for NE/Hilly States

a) Construction of roads

from Oil Palm filed to

nearest FFB collection

Kms Rs. 5.00 lakh

per Km

75:25 50 187.50 62.50 250.00

25

Cebter (50 % of the

actual estimated cost

% Rs. 5.00 lakh per

KM

IV Transfer of

Technology Inputs

a) Farmers’ Training for

30 farmers for 2 days

Batc

h

Rs. 24000/-

per training

75:25 30 5.40 1.80 7.20

b) Raining for Extension

Workers/Officers/Input

s dealers

Batc

h

Rs. 36000/-

per training

75:25 5 1.35 0.45 1.80

c) Demonstration

(i) Cost of planting

materials

Ha

Rs. 8000/-Ha

75:25

10

0.60

0.20

0.80

d) Local initiatives,

contingencies,

engagement of

consultant/supporting

staffs, monitoring and

evaluation and

operational costs etc.

(1 % of total

allocation).

-

-

75:25

8.65

2.88

11.53

e) 10 % Flexi-fund for

placement of Oil Palm

seedlings from

Nursery to Farmers

fields

Ha.

-

75:25

4000

86.50

28.83

115.33

TOTAL 865.00 288.30 1153.30

(Rupees One thousand One hundred fifty three lakh and thirty thousand) only

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

26

Introduction

Sustaining agricultural productivity depends on quality and availability of natural resources like

soil and water. Agricultural growth can be sustained by promoting conservation and sustainable

use of these scarce natural resources through appropriate location specific measures. Indian

agriculture remains predominantly rain fed covering about 60% of the country’s net sown area

and accounts for 40% of the total food production. Thus, conservation of natural resources in

conjunction with development of rain fed agriculture holds the key to meet burgeoning demands

for food grain in the country. Towards this end, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

(NMSA) has been formulated for enhancing agricultural productivity especially in rain fed areas

focusing on integrated farming, water use efficiency, soil health management and synergizing

resource conservation.

NMSA derives its mandate from Sustainable Agriculture Mission which is one of the eight

Missions outlined under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The strategies and

programme of actions (POA) outlined in the Mission Document, that was accorded ‘in principle’

approval by Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change (PMCCC) on 23.09.2010,aim at

promoting sustainable agriculture through a series of adaptation measures focusing on ten key

dimensions encompassing Indian agriculture namely; ‘Improved crop seeds, livestock and fish

cultures’, ‘Water Use Efficiency’, ‘Pest Management’, ‘Improved Farm Practices’, ‘Nutrient

Management’, ‘Agricultural insurance’, ‘Credit support’, ‘Markets’, ‘Access to Information’ and

‘Livelihood diversification’. During XII Five Year Plan, these measures are being embedded and

mainstreamed onto ongoing/proposed Missions/Progammes/Schemes of Dept. of Agriculture

&Cooperation (DAC) through a process of restructuring and convergence. NMSA architecture

has been designed by converging, consolidating and subsuming all ongoing as well as newly

proposed activities/programmes related to sustainable agriculture with a special emphasis on

soil & water conservation, water use efficiency, soil health management and rain fed area

development. The focus of NMSA will be to infuse the judicious utilization of resources of

commons through community based approach.

NMSA will cater to key dimensions of ‘Water use efficiency’, ‘Nutrient Management’ and

‘Livelihood diversification’ through adoption of sustainable development pathway by

progressively shifting to environmental friendly technologies, adoption of energy efficient

equipments, conservation of natural resources, integrated farming, etc. Besides, NMSA aims at

promoting location specific improved agronomic practices through soil health management,

enhanced water use efficiency, judicious use of chemicals, crop diversification, progressive

adoption of crop-livestock farming systems and integrated approaches like crop-sericulture,

agro-forestry, fish farming, etc.

Objectives

NMSA will have following objectives:

27

To make agriculture more productive, sustainable, remunerative and climate resilient by

promoting location specific Integrated/Composite Farming Systems;

To conserve natural resources through appropriate soil and moisture conservation measures;

To adopt comprehensive soil health management practices based on soil fertility maps, soil

test based application of macro & micro nutrients, judicious use of fertilizers etc.;

To optimize utilization of water resources through efficient water management to expand

coverage for achieving ‘more crop per drop’;

To develop capacity of farmers & stakeholders, in conjunction with other on-going Missions

e.g. National Mission on Agriculture Extension & Technology, National Food Security Mission,

National Initiative for Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) etc., in the domain of climate

change adaptation and mitigation measures;

To pilot models in select blocks for improving productivity of rain fed farming by

mainstreaming rain fed technologies refined through NICRA and by leveraging resources

from other schemes/Missions like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee

Scheme (MGNREGS), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), RKVY etc.;

and

To establish an effective inter and intra Departmental/Ministerial co-ordination for

accomplishing key deliverables of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture under the

aegis of NAPCC.

Mission Strategy

To achieve these objectives, NMSA will have following multi-pronged strategy:

Promoting integrated farming system covering crops, livestock & fishery, plantation and

pasture based composite farming for enhancing livelihood opportunities, ensuring food

security and minimizing risks from crop failure through supplementary/ residual production

systems;

Popularizing resource conservation technologies (both on-farm and off-farm) and introducing

practices that will support mitigation efforts in times of extreme climatic events or disasters

like prolonged dry spells, floods etc.

Promoting effective management of available water resources and enhancing water use

efficiency through application of technologies coupled with demand and supply side

management solutions;

28

Encouraging improved agronomic practices for higher farm productivity, improved soil

treatment, increased water holding capacity, judicious use of chemicals/ energy and

enhanced soil carbon storage;

Creating database on soil resources through land use survey, soil profile study and soil

analysis on GIS platform to facilitate adoption of location and soil-specific crop management

practices& optimize fertilizer use;

Promoting location and crop specific integrated nutrient management practices for improving

soil health, enhancing crop productivity and maintaining quality of land and water resources;

Involving knowledge institutions and professionals in developing climate change adaptation

and mitigation strategies for specific agro climatic situations and promoting them through

appropriate farming systems

Programmatic interventions as per land capability and conducive to climatic parameters in

select blocks as pilots for ensuring integrated development through dissemination and

adoption of rain fed technologies with greater reach in disadvantaged areas & location

specific planning by way of coordination, convergence and leveraging investments from other

Schemes/Missions like MGNREGS, IWMP, RKVY, National Food Security Mission (NFSM),

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Mission for Agricultural

Extension & Technology (NMAE&T) etc. A consortium approach may be evolved with various

stake holders including knowledge partners like State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Krishi

Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Centres, professional

organisations etc. by the State Government to provide single window service/ knowledge

provider system for the benefit of farming community.

State Government may engage reputed NGOs for implementation of cluster/village

development plan in case of limited govt. infrastructure is available in that area through a

transparent system of selection and defined process of supervision and monitoring through a

line department.

Strong technical monitoring and feedback systems on climate change mitigation and

adaptation issues to the National Advisory council for regular updates on technical feasibility

of various components and their effectiveness in bringing about the climate resilience. The

experts of central institutes and state agricultural universities would be part of such technical

monitoring/feedback. The capacity building of the implementing agencies would be steered by

MANAGE.

Establishing platform to liaison, review and coordinate implementation of interventions

outlined in Mission Document of NMSA under aegis of National Action Plan on Climate

Change.

29

Mission Interventions:

NMSA has following four (4) major programme components or activities:

Rainfed Area Development (RAD): RAD will adopt an area based approach for

development and conservation of natural resources along with farming systems. This

component has been formulated in a ‘watershed plus framework’, i.e., to explore

potential utilization of natural resources base/assets available/created through watershed

development and soil conservation activities /interventions under MGNREGS, NWDPRA,

RVP&FPR, RKVY, IWMP etc.. This component will introduce appropriate farming

systems by integrating multiple components of agriculture such as crops, horticulture,

livestock, fishery, forestry with agro based income generating activities and value

addition. Besides, soil test/soil health card based nutrient management practices,

farmland development, resource conservation and crop selection conducive to local agro

climatic condition will also be promoted under this component. A cluster based approach

of 100 hectare or more (contiguous or non contiguous in difficult terrain with close

proximity in a village/adjoining villages) may be adopted to derive noticeable impact of

convergence and encourage local participation and for future replication of the model in

larger areas. Supplementary support from this component will be admissible for gap-

filling resource conservation activities under converging programmes. RAD clusters

should have soil analysis/soil health card/soil survey maps to justify the interventions

proposed and at least 25% of the farming system area will have to be covered under On

Farm Water Management. Farming Systems recommended by ICAR’s Contingency

Plans and successful findings of NICRA projects shall also be considered in

development of integrated project plan. Besides, creation and development of common

property resources/assets/utilities like grain bank, biomass shredders, fodder bank,

group marketing etc. will be encouraged under this component.

On Farm Water Management (OFWM): OFWM will focus primarily on enhancing water

use efficiency by promoting efficient on-farm water management technologies and

equipment. This will not only focus on application efficiency but, in conjunction with RAD

component, also will emphasize on effective harvesting & management of rainwater.

Assistance will be extended for adopting water conservation technologies, efficient

delivery and distribution systems etc. Emphasis will also be given to manage and

equitably distribute the resources of commons by involving the water users associations,

etc. To conserve water on farm itself, farm ponds may be dug using MGNREGA funds

and earth moving machinery (to the extent manual digging under MGNREGA is not

feasible)

Soil Health Management (SHM): SHM will aim at promoting location as well as crop

specific sustainable soil health management including residue management, organic

farming practices by way of creating and linking soil fertility maps with macro-micro

30

nutrient management, appropriate land use based on land capability, judicious

application of fertilizers and minimizing the soil erosion/degradation. Assistance will be

provided for various improved package of practices based on land use and soil

characteristics, generated through geographical information system (GIS) based

thematic maps and database on land and soil characteristics through extensive field level

scientific surveys. Besides, this component will also provide support to reclamation of

problem soils (acid/alkaline/saline). This component will be implemented by State Govt.,

National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF), Central Fertilizer Quality Control & Training

Institute (CFQC&TI) and Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI). Given the

limitations, such as staff and infrastructure, faced by the department of agriculture at the

field level, a Public Private Partnership Model may be adopted by states depending upon

the private partner’s strength in the field to ensure that the soil testing is done in time and

in the numbers required. The private parties can be encouraged to set up soil testing

labs in selected areas in the district. Detailed separate guidelines for implementation of

Soil Health Management component are given in Chapter- 2.

Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture: Monitoring, Modeling and

Networking (CCSAMMN): CCSAMMN will provide creation and bidirectional

(land/farmers to research/scientific establishments and vice versa) dissemination of

climate change related information and knowledge by way of piloting climate change

adaptation/mitigation research/model projects in the domain of climate smart sustainable

management practices and integrated farming system suitable to local agro-climatic

conditions. The dedicated expert teams of technical personnel will be institutionalized

within NMSA to rigorously monitor and evaluate the mission activities thrice in a year and

will inform the National Committee. Comprehensive pilot blocks will be supported to

illustrate functional mechanism for dissemination of rain fed technologies, planning,

convergence and coordination with flagship schemes/Missions like MGNREGS, IWMP,

Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), RKVY, NFSM, NHM, NMAET etc.

Such an integrated action of input and output flows across agriculture, livestock and

other production systems will harness the growth potential of the rainfed production

systems, imparting sustainability of local production systems while negotiating climate

change risks. A consortium approach will be evolved with various stake holders including

knowledge partners like State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras

(KVKs), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institutes etc. by the State

Government to provide single window service/knowledge provider system for the benefit

of farming community. Financial support may be provided through States to

institutionalize the concept and meeting supplementary developmental activities. Climate

change related monitoring, feedback, knowledge networking and skill development will

also be supported under this component through State Agricultural Universities, ICAR

Institutes National/International Institutes, KVKs, Public/Private R&D Organizations etc.

Awarding of Studies, Documentation & Publication, Domestic and Foreign Training,

Workshops/Conferences etc. will be supported under this component.

31

Mission Structure:

NMSA will have following three tier structure for planning, implementation and monitoring of various

components:

a. National Level Architecture:

b. State Level Architecture:

c. District Level Architecture:

National Level Architecture:

National Advisory Committee (NAC): A National Advisory Committee (NAC) under

Chairmanship of Secretary (A&C) with the following members will be constituted to provide strategic

direction for guidance and planning for effective implementation of the mission.

Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation Chairman

Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, DAC Member

Representative from Ministry of Water Resources: Member

Representative from Ministry Rural Development: Member

Representative from Ministry of Panchayati Raj Member

Representative from Ministry of Environment & Forest Member

Representative from Ministry of Food Processing Industries Member

Representative from Ministry of Tribal Affairs Member

Representative from Department of Agricultural Research Member

& Education

Representative from Department of Animal Husbandry Member

Dairying & Fisheries,

Representative from Department of Land Resources Member

Technical Expert of National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) Member

Joint Secretary (INM), DAC Member

Joint Secretary (NHM), DAC Member

Joint Secretary (Crops), DAC Member

Joint Secretary (NRM & RFS) &Mission Director (NMSA) Member Secretary

(Note: Representatives from Ministries/Departments to be not below the rank of Joint Secretary)

b. State Level Architecture: State level, State Level Committee (SLC) chaired by Principal

Secretary/Secretary (Agriculture) with the following members is constituted to provide strategic

direction for guidance and planning for effective implementation of the mission.

c. District Level Architecture: District Mission Committee (DMC) chaired by Principal

Secretary/Secretary (Agriculture) with the following members is constituted to provide strategic

direction for guidance and planning for effective implementation of the mission.

32

Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture: Monitoring Modeling & Networking (CCSAMMN)

Objectives:

� To enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture covering crops, livestock and fisheries to

climatic variability and climate change through development and application of improved

production and risk management technologies.

� To demonstrate site specific technology packages on farmers’ fields for adapting to current

climate risks.

� To enhance the capacity of scientists and other stakeholders in climate resilient agricultural

research and its application

Strategies:

� Selection of promising crop genotypes and livestock breeds with greater tolerance to

climatic stress.

� Promotion of best practices for climate resilience through demonstration in three Agro

climatic Zones.

� Strengthening of Infrastructure at KVKs for climatic change research activities.

� Capacity building & Training (Training of staff, Field functionaries & Training of Farmers )

Thrust Area:

Natural resources management : In-situ moisture conservation, water harvesting and recycling for

supplemental irrigation, improved drainage in flood prone areas, conservation tillage where

appropriate, artificial ground water recharge and water saving irrigation methods.

Crop Production: Drought/temperature tolerant varieties, advancement of planting dates of rabi

crops in areas with terminal heat stress, water saving paddy cultivation methods (SRI, aerobic, direct

seeding), frost management in horticulture through fumigation, community nurseries for delayed

33

monsoon, custom hiring centre for timely planting, location specific intercropping systems with high

sustainable yield index.

Livestock and Fisheries: Use of community lands for fodder production during droughts/floods,

improved fodder/feed storage methods, preventive vaccination, Improved shelters for reducing heat

stress in livestock , management of fish ponds

/tanks during water scarcity and excess water, etc.

Institutional Interventions & Networking: Strengthening the existing Infrastructures, climate literacy

through automatic weather station. Knowledge Networking and Up-gradation through web portal.

Pilot blocks are selected on the basis of following parameters: � Blocks having least irrigated area i.e., primarily rainfed agriculture is being practiced in the

block. � Preponderance of SC & ST farmers in the block.

� Lower crop productivity compared to State’s average.

� Any other parameters based on State specific issues to prioritize adoption.

� Pilot blocks are selected covering the three Agro climatic Zones. 7. Proposed Annual Action Plan (AAP): AAP is prepared for seven clusters covering six

districts and physical and financial targets of each intervention is given below :

Sl.No Interventions Amount Remarks

A Rain fed Area Development (RAD) Rs. 465.83lakh Total of eleven clusters

are selected covering

six districts and three

Agro climatic Zones of

Mizoram.

B Climate Change and Sustainable

Agriculture: Monitoring Modeling &

Networking (CCSAMMN)

Rs.11.20 lakh:

C Administrative Cost (<5%) Rs. 22.97 lakh

Total : (A + B+ C) Rs 500.00 lakh

(Rupees Five Hundred Lakh.) Only

NEW SCHEMES TO BE INTRODUCE W.E.F 2014-15:

NATIONAL MISSION ON AGRICULTURE EXTENSION AND TECHNOLOGY:

The Government of India has approved National Mission on Agriculture Extension and

Technology on 3rd

March, 2014 for implementation during 12th Plan. The following are some of the

salient features f the Mission.

� Agricultural Technology, including the adoption/ promotion of critical inputs, and improved

agronomic practices were being disseminated under 17 different schemes of the Department of

Agriculture & Cooperation during the 11th Plan. The Modified Extension Reforms Scheme was

introduced in 2010 with the objective of strengthening the extension machinery and utilizing it for

34

synergizing the interventions under these schemes under the umbrella of Agriculture Technology

Management Agency (ATMA). NMAET has been envisaged as the next step towards this objective

through the amalgamation of these schemes. National Mission on Agricultural Extension and

Technology (NMAET) consists of 4 Sub Missions:

(i) Sub Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE).

(ii) Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP).

(iii)Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM).

(iv) Sub Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPP).

� While four separate Sub-Missions are included in NMAET for administrative convenience, on

the ground these are Executive Summary of inextricably linked to each other. The common

threads running across all 4 Sub-Missions are Extension & Technology. Seeds, pesticides and

machinery are three important agricultural inputs whose technological and economic significance

needs to be disseminated to all the farmers through efficacious extension machinery. However,

besides the core component of ensuring easy availability of these key inputs (i.e. Seeds, Pesticides

and Machinery) at reasonable prices, there will be a subject specific capacity building element built in

the latter three Sub-Missions as well. Agricultural extension and technology have to go hand in hand

and that is the genesis of the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology.

� The aim of the Mission is to restructure & strengthen agricultural extension to enable delivery

of appropriate technology and improved agronomic practices to the farmers. This is envisaged to be

achieved by a judicious mix of extensive physical outreach & interactive methods of information

dissemination, use of ICT, popularisation of modern and appropriate technologies, capacity building

and institution strengthening to promote mechanisation, availability of quality seeds, plant protection

etc. and encourage the aggregation of farmers into Interest Groups (FIGs) to form Farmer Producer

Organizations (FPOs).

� SMAE: Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension will focus on awareness creation and

enhanced use of appropriate technologies in agriculture & allied sectors. Gains made in the past will

be consolidated and strengthened through increased penetration of extension functionaries.

Personnel trained under Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres Scheme (ACABC) and Diploma in

Agriculture Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI) will also provide extension services to the

farmers. Use of interactive and innovative methods of information dissemination like pico projectors,

low cost films, handheld devices, mobile based services, Kisan Call Centres (KCCs) etc. will be used

and convergence brought among extension efforts under different programmes and schemes at

village level through the institution of ATMA (Agriculture Technology Management Agency) and Block

Technology Teams (BTTs).

� SMSP: Adoption of quality seeds is the most cost effective means for increasing agricultural

production and productivity. The interventions included in the Sub-Mission will cover the entire gamut

of seed chain from nucleus seed to supply to farmers for sowing and also to the major stakeholders in

the seed chain and also provide for support for infrastructure to create an enabling environment for

35

development of the Sector. SMSP also envisages strengthening of Protection of Plant Varieties and

Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) in order to put in place an effective system for protection of

plant varieties, rights of farmers and plant breeders and to encourage development of new varieties of

plants.

� SMAM: There is a strong co-relation between farm power availability and agricultural

productivity. Therefore, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization will focus on farm mechanization.

The Sub-Mission will mainly cater to the needs of the small and marginal farmers through institutional

arrangements such as custom hiring, mechanization of selected villages, subsidy for procurement of

machines & equipments, etc.

� SMPP: Sub-Mission on Plant Protection included in NMAET envisages increase in

agricultural production by keeping the crop disease free using scientific and environment friendly

techniques through promotion of Integrated Pest Management. Strengthening and Modernization of

Pest Management Approach aims at this vital aspect of Plant Protection and also covers regulatory

requirements of pesticides. The component on Strengthening & Modernization of Plant Quarantine

facilities in India is regulatory in nature with the aim of preventing introduction and spread of exotic

pests that are harmful to crops by regulating/restricting import of plant/plant products. Monitoring

pesticide residues in food commodities and environmental samples is also included in this Sub-

Mission. The component on National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) will promote

environmentally sustainable Plant Health Management practices in diverse and changing agro-

climatic conditions, pesticide management, and Bio-security through capacity building programmes.

Farmers’ skill trainings and field extension as contained in all 4 Sub Missions of NMAET (Viz. SMSP,

SMAE, SMAM and SMPP) will be converged with similar farmer-related activities going on through

ATMA. Five-tiered modes of extension carried out in broadcast or interactive electronic modes will

also cut across extension activities in all the four Sub Missions. Mutually synergetic linkages will be

established among various activities instead of unilaterally mandating that all such farmer-centric

activities will be carried out through ATMA.

36

PROGRAMS OF HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT, GOVT. OF MIZORAM

By

Directorate of Horticulture, Mizoram

Geography and Climate :

Mizoram is one of the seven sister states of North Eastern India, sharing borders with the

state of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with neighboring countries of Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Mizoram became the 23rd

state of India on 20th February 1987.

Mizoram is land of rolling hills, valleys, rivers and lakes situated at the southern extreme of

North East India having a geographical area of 21,087 sq. km. The average heights of the hills are

about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) which gradually rise up to 1,300 metre (4,300 ft). Some areas, however

have higher ranges which go up to a height of over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). Mizoram has a mild

climate, comfortable in summer 20o to 33

0C and never freezing during winter, with temperature from

70 to 21

0C. The region is influenced by south west monsoon, raining heavily from May to October with

little rain in the dry season i.e. Nov – Apr.

Brief Geographical Profile of Mizoram

Population : 10,91,014 (as per 2011 census)

Literacy rate : 91.85%

Total geographical Area : 21,087 sq km

Potential Horticulture Area : 11.56 lakh Ha

Present Horticulture Area : 1.21 lakh Ha i.e. 10.46%

Location a) Latitude : 210 58’ to 24

0 35’ North

b) Longitude : 920 15’ to 93

0 29’ East

International Border

a) Myanmar : 404 km

b) Bangladesh : 318 km

Average humidity : Minimum – 60%

Maximum – 95%

Average Temperature : 7 0C – 21

0C Summer

Average Annual Rainfall : 250 cm per annum

Soil Type : Loamy to clay, rich in organic carbon and

Moderately rich in available Potash, Acidic in

nature with pH range of 4.5 – 6.5

37

Potential of Horticulture:

a) More than 70 percent of the population depend on land based activities for their livelihood

and horticulture is one of the primary sector on which the majority population depends on

for their livelihood.

b) The topography of the state provides great prospects for horticulture as almost all types

of crops like fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, plantation crops etc thrives well in the

region.

c) The state receives abundant rainfall during monsoon which is a boon for growing almost

all types of horticultural crops.

d) The main practice of earning livelihood in Mizoram is jhumming which is very detrimental

from environmental point of view besides being a fragile means of livelihood. In order to

change the present system of cultivation, horticulture is found to be the best option to

supplement the farmers as well as the state economy.

Land Availability:

The geographical area of Mizoram is 21.00 lakh ha approx. with a population of 10.91 lakh

only in 2011 census. Out of 21.00 lakh ha. of land, 11.56 lakh i.e. (55%) is found potential for

horticulture but only 1.21 lakh ha. (10.46%) approx. have been covered so far under horticulture

plantation which shows that 10.35 lakh ha. i.e. (89.54%) of horticulture potential area is still lying

untapped. The available land and the meteorological data of Mizoram is given at Table I & II

respectively.

Table – I Area (Ha) under different class of slope in Mizoram.

Name of

District

Level to very

steep

(0-50%)

Very very

steep

(> 50%)

Rides Dissected

low hill Total Area

Aizawl 1,83,050.00 98,781.00 23,462.00 - 3,05,293.00

Champhai 2,07,402.00 88,169.00 13,541.00 - 3,09,112.00

Mamit 1,65,440.00 94,250.00 10,190.00 31,703.00 3,01,587.00

Serchhip 1,29,436.00 81,033.00 7003.00 - 2,17,472.00

Kolasib 46,070.00 70,399.00 5,411.00 3885.00 1,25,765.00

Lunglei 2,43,516.00 1,42,057.00 32,639.00 35,587.00 4,53,799.00

Lawngtlai 94,536.00 71,781.00 17,750.00 12,224.00 1,96,291.00

Saiha 86,750.00 1,08,261.00 3,748.00 - 1,98,759.00

TOTAL 11,56,204.00 7,54,731.00 1,13,744.00 83,399.00 21,08,078.00

38

Table – II Mizoram Rainfall, temperature, relative Humidity (1986-2011)

Source : Meteorological Date of Mizoram, Mizoram Remote Sensing Application

Centre, Aizawl 2012 (Booklet is annexed)

Sl.

No. Name of District

Rainfall

(mm)

Temperature (0C)

Relative

Humidity (%) Av. Max Av. Min

1. Aizawl 3177.6 32.2 8.5 78.25

2. Champhai 2346.2 33.3 3.8 70.95

3. Kolasib 2819.9 29.3 13.7 -

4. Lawngtlai 2486.5 33.0 7.7 -

5. Lunglei 2618.6 33.7 10.4 -

6. Mamit 3067.0 40.0 11.2 75.82

7. Saiha 2615.9 33.8 10.5 72.45

8. Serchhip 2415.8 36.0 9.0 -

TOTAL : 2693.4 33.1 9.4 74.37

Area and production of horticulture crops 2012-2013

Sl.

No.

Crops

2012-2013

Area in Ha Production in MT Productivity

MT/ Ha

1. Fruits 49684 293760 5.9

2. Vegetables 37738 223040 5.9

3. Roots & Tubers 1590 13640 8.5

4. Plantation Crops 8703 8191 0.9

5. Medicinal Plants 978 680 0.6

6. Aromatic Plants 46 25.8 0.56

7. Spices 22532 59630 2.6

8. Flowers 163 386.87 lakhs Nos. 11.49 lakhs

Strategy for Land & Water Resources Management:

1. Identification of potential land and water for sustainable Horticulture.

2. Utilization of perennial sources of water by taping river and stream water for irrigation.

3. Rain water harvesting for irrigation of upland.

4. Economical utilization of water by drip, sprinkler irrigation system etc.

5. Conservation of soil moisture.

6. Recharging soil profile water by contour trench, terraces etc.

7. Intensive cultivation, protected cultivation (Green house, Shade house etc).

8. Identification of crops base on land, water and market requirement.

39

9. Post Harvest Management/ value addition.

10. Preserved and improved the watershed area.

40

SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

By

Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation, Govt. of Mizoram

The Soil & Water Conservation Department had implemented the following CSS

Scheme such as :-

(1) River Valley Project/Flood Prone Rivers (RVP/FPR)

(2) Rashtrya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

River Valley Project/Flood Prone River (RVP/FPR) :

During 11th Five Year Plan, RVP/FPR Scheme was implemented by the Department

in the catchment of Langkaih and Dhaleswhari (Tlawng) river. The strategy was watershed approach

for treatment of degraded area as cluster and contiguous manner for the inter-State catchment. The

activity of the project was construction of contour/graded bunding, Bench Terracing and Horticulture

plantation on Agriculture land. Drainage line treatment like construction of earthen/loose boulder

check dam, loose boulder check dam with vegetative support, loose boulder check dam with gabion,

water harvesting structure, check bunds (vegetative/log), silt retention dam, farm ponds were

constructed on lower, middle and upper reaches of agricultural land, forest land and waste land of the

watershed. Silvi pastural development works were also taken up in the project.

The objective of the project/programme were :

(1) Prevention of land degradation by adoption of appropriate need based soil and water

conservation measures on watershed approach as in an integrated manner in the

inter-state catchments.

(2) Improvement of land capability and moisture regime in the watersheds.

(3) Promotion of land use to match land capability.

(4) Prevention of soil erosion and run-off from the watershed with a view to prevent pre-

mature siltation of multipurpose reservoirs and also to reduce flood peaks and

volumes of run-off.

The Department had implement the scheme since 2001 and completed 42 nos. of

Projects. The Financial achievement was ` 3881.070 lakhs and Physical achievement was 28844 nos.

of Ha. and 3758 nos. of structures.

41

Rashtrya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) :

The Department has started implementation of RKVY Scheme since 2010 – 2011.

The areas focussed under this scheme was production and productivity enhancement of Agriculture

lands. The main activities for production enhancement measures adopted are construction of water

harvesting structures, terracing, moisture conservation trenches, protection works of WRC areas to

prevent soil erosion of WRC areas, services of check dams to retain moisture and debris for better

ground water recharging, agro-forestry, etc.

The objective of this scheme are:

(1) Control and prevention of soil erosion in the upper, middle and lower reaches.

(2) Conservation of rain water to enhance production and productivity of agriculture land

in the middle and lower reaches.

(3) To minimize water scarcity during lean season.

(4) Enhancement of socio-economic status of stake holders.

In the above scheme, 21 nos. of projects were completed since inception of the

project with Financial achievement of ` 1146.50 lakhs. The Physical achievement was 1256.49

Ha., 2337 nos. of structures and 2439 Rm. of gabionic spur.

The Physical and Financial achievement of both RVP/FPR and RKVY Scheme

are enclosed.

42

43

STATUS ON FOREST IN MIZORAM, MANAGEMENT PRACTISES AND PLAN SCHEMES

ENVIRONMENT & FOREST DEPARTMENT

Principal Chief Conservator of

Status on existing forests

Forest cover

A large area - 19,117 sq. kms. (90.68 percent of the State’s total geographical area)

is covered under forests (Forest Survey of India, 2011). However, the forests have suffered serious

depletion and degradation in the pas

fire, unregulated felling etc. As per the “India State of Forest Report 2011” published by the Forest

Survey of India, the State has 12,897 sq. kms. open forests which is 67.46% of the

and 61.18 % of the total geographical area. The density

shown below graphically in Figure 1.

Forest Types

The forests in Mizoram

carrying an enormous variety of flora and fauna have been reported to occur in the State (Forest

Survey of India, 2011). The Forest Types found in the State are as under:

• Cachar Tropical Semi

The important species are

Emblicaspp, Careyaarborea etc.

• Secondary Moist Bamboo Brakes (2/2S1):

Melocannabambusoides, Dendrocalamushamiltonii etc.

• Pioneer Euphorbiaceous Scrub (2B/2S1):

exposed lands present on higher slopes and on top of the hills. It has quick growing species

like Macaranga spp., Mallotus

• East Himalayan Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest (3C/C3b):

Syzigiumcuminii, Albizziaprocera, Dilleniapentagyna, Artocarpuslakoocha,

Terminaliaballerica, T. chebula, L

the characteristic species of this type. It is found in all districts of Mizoram.

Figure - 1

Source: Forest Survey of India, 2011

44

STATUS ON FOREST IN MIZORAM, MANAGEMENT PRACTISES AND PLAN SCHEMES

ENVIRONMENT & FOREST DEPARTMENT, GOVT. OF MIZORAM

By

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Govt. of Mizoram

19,117 sq. kms. (90.68 percent of the State’s total geographical area)

is covered under forests (Forest Survey of India, 2011). However, the forests have suffered serious

depletion and degradation in the past due to the traditional practice of shifting cultivation, uncontrolled

fire, unregulated felling etc. As per the “India State of Forest Report 2011” published by the Forest

Survey of India, the State has 12,897 sq. kms. open forests which is 67.46% of the

and 61.18 % of the total geographical area. The density-class of forests found in the State has been

shown below graphically in Figure 1.

The forests in Mizoram are also rich in bio-diversity as six important forest types

carrying an enormous variety of flora and fauna have been reported to occur in the State (Forest

Survey of India, 2011). The Forest Types found in the State are as under:-

Cachar Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forest (2B/C2): Mostly found in all districts of the State.

The important species are Dipterocarpusturbinatus, D. tuberculatus, Terminaliachebula,

Emblicaspp, Careyaarborea etc.

Secondary Moist Bamboo Brakes (2/2S1): Dominant species of bamboo like

Melocannabambusoides, Dendrocalamushamiltonii etc. are present.

Pioneer Euphorbiaceous Scrub (2B/2S1): It is generally found in degraded forests and

exposed lands present on higher slopes and on top of the hills. It has quick growing species

Mallotus spp. etc. This type is found in all districts except Kolasib.

East Himalayan Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest (3C/C3b):Schimawallichii,

Syzigiumcuminii, Albizziaprocera, Dilleniapentagyna, Artocarpuslakoocha,

Terminaliaballerica, T. chebula, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Anthocephalouskadamba

the characteristic species of this type. It is found in all districts of Mizoram.

Open Forest;

61.18 %

Scrub; 0.01 %

Non-Forest;

9.3 %Very Dense

Forest;

0.64 %

Moderately

Dense forest;

28.87 %

Source: Forest Survey of India, 2011

STATUS ON FOREST IN MIZORAM, MANAGEMENT PRACTISES AND PLAN SCHEMES OF

OF MIZORAM

19,117 sq. kms. (90.68 percent of the State’s total geographical area) -

is covered under forests (Forest Survey of India, 2011). However, the forests have suffered serious

t due to the traditional practice of shifting cultivation, uncontrolled

fire, unregulated felling etc. As per the “India State of Forest Report 2011” published by the Forest

Survey of India, the State has 12,897 sq. kms. open forests which is 67.46% of the total forest cover

class of forests found in the State has been

diversity as six important forest types

carrying an enormous variety of flora and fauna have been reported to occur in the State (Forest

Mostly found in all districts of the State.

Dipterocarpusturbinatus, D. tuberculatus, Terminaliachebula,

Dominant species of bamboo like

It is generally found in degraded forests and

exposed lands present on higher slopes and on top of the hills. It has quick growing species

spp. etc. This type is found in all districts except Kolasib.

Schimawallichii,

Syzigiumcuminii, Albizziaprocera, Dilleniapentagyna, Artocarpuslakoocha,

agerstroemia parviflora, Anthocephalouskadamba etc. are

the characteristic species of this type. It is found in all districts of Mizoram.

Scrub; 0.01 %

Forest;

45

• East Himalayan Subtropical Wet Hill Forest (8B/C1): Major characteristic species are

Quercusvercus, Q. serrata, Castanopsisspp, Litsea spp. Machilusspp etc. This forest type is

found in Kolasib district.

• Assam Subtropical Pine Forest (9/C2): It is mostly dominated by the species Pinus kesiya

with other associates like Quercusspp, Schimawallichii, Rhododendronspp etc. This forest

type is found mainly in Champhai district of the State.

The forests in Mizoram are ecologically significant as the region represents an

important part of the Indo Myanmar bio-diversity hotspot which is one of the recognized global

biodiversity hotspots.

Bamboo Resources

Nature has endowed Mizoram with valuable Bamboo Forests. Bamboos are found

abundantly in the State mainly along river banks and on abandoned jhum land. Both the clump

forming and the non-clump forming species occur naturally in most parts of the State except on the

higher altitudes of its eastern region. A large area of about 9,245 sq. kms., which is 44 percent of the

State’s geographical area, is covered under “Bamboo Forests” (Forest Survey of India, 2011). In spite

of being small in size, Mizoram contributes a large percentage of the country’s growing stock of

bamboos.

35 species of bamboos under 9 genera have been reported to grow in the State (E &

F Department, 2010). Melocanna baccifera (locally called “Mautak”), a non-clump forming species, is

the prominent species found in the State. Other dominant species are Dendrocalamus hamiltonii

(Phulrua), D. longispathus (Rawnal), Bambusa tulda (Rawthing), B. longispiculata (Rawthing chi), and

Arundinaria callosa (Phar). These species do not occur in large proportions like Mautak but are

commercially valuable.

Areas under Notified Forests

The notified forests include (1) Riverine Reserve Forests, (2) Inner-line Reserved

Forests, (3) Roadside Reserve Forests, (4) Other Reserve Forests and (5) Protected Areas under the

ownership of the State Government as well as under the ownership of District Councils. About 39

percent of the total geographical area (8266.08 sq.kms.) is covered under “notified forests” in the

State of Mizoram.

Protected Areas

The Environment and Forest Department, Govt. of Mizoram has taken praiseworthy

initiatives for preservation of wildlife by constituting one Tiger Reserve, two National Parks and seven

Wildlife Sanctuaries. These are (1) Dampa Tiger Reserve, (2) Murlen National Park, (3) Phawngpui

National Park, (4) Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary, (5) Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary, (6) Khawnglung

Wildlife Sanctuary, (7) Tawi Wildlife Sanctuary, (8) Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary, (9) Pualreng

Wildlife Sanctuary, and (10) Tokalo Wildlife Sanctuary. The area set aside for long-term wildlife

preservation is 1728.75 sq. km. which is more than 8 % of the State’s geographical area.

The network of protected areas provides healthy habitats for many wild animals,

birds, and reptiles. Some important species of mammals found in the State are Tiger, Elephant,

46

Malayan Sun Bear, Wild dog, Brush Tailed Porcupine, Gour, Leopard Cat, Marbled Cat, Golden Cat,

Clouded Leopard, Serow etc. The forests of Mizoram also provide habitats for primates such as

Assamese Macaque, Phyare Leaf Monkey, Slow Loris, Pig Tailed Macaque, Stump Tailed Macaque,

Rhesus Macaque, and Capped Langur and also for Hoolock Gibbon, the only ape found in India.

Important bird species found in the State are Black Stork, Oriental Darter, Serpent

Eagle, Black Eagle, Humes Bartailed Pheasant, Blyth’s Tragopan, Green Burmese Peafawl, Grey

Peacock, Fufous Patridge, Brushed Patridge, Yellow-legged Button quill etc. The Hornbill species

include Great Indian Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Brown Hornbill, and Rufous-

necked Hornbill.

Management in the past

Prior to independence, a remarkable beginning was made by the Government with the

demarcation of “Inner Line Reserve” covering 509 sq. miles along the inter-district boundary of

Cachar and Mizoram in 1877. Further, the “Inner Line” of the Lushai Hills District was notified in 1933.

The “Inner Line” notification not only regulated the entry of outsiders into Lushai Hills District but also

prohibited outside traders from carrying out commercial activities beyond the inner line without

obtaining passes from the Government. As a result, the forests and other natural resources of the

then Lushai Hills District (now Mizoram) could be saved from exploitation by smugglers and traders.

After independence in 1947, efforts for regulated management of the forests in Mizoram were

initiated by the Mizo District Council and the Pawi-Lakher Regional Council. These councils enacted 4

acts namely (1) The Pawi-Lakher Autonomous region (Forest) Act 1954, (2) The Mizo District (Forest)

Act 1955, (3) The Pawi Autonomous District (Forest) Act 1976 (repealing Act of 1954), and (4) The

Lakher Autonomous District (Forest) Act 1981 (repealing Act of 1954). These acts were meant for

“conservation and regulation of forest and its produces” (Department of Environment & Forests, 1991,

p. 9).

The forests were classified as (1) Village Forest Reserve, and (2) Council Reserve Forest.

The Village Forest Reserve consisted of (a) Village Safety Reserve for protection of the forests

adjacent to the villages in order to ensure better health, adequate water supply etc. (b) Village Supply

Reserve for meeting the forest-based needs of the villagers, and (c) Protected Reserve for protection

of valuable forests from destruction. Suitable forest lands with rich and diverse flora and fauna, which

were at the disposal of the District Councils, were constituted as “Council Reserve Forests”.

Further, areas within ½ a mile on either side of 16 important rivers in the State as well as on

both sides of Aizawl-Silchar road via Sairang were notified as Reserve Forests in 1964 under Mizo

(District) Forest Act, 1955. Under the same act, 55 species of trees were declared as “Reserve Trees”

prohibiting felling, tapping, or injuring in any manner without permission of a competent Forest Officer.

Issues and Challenges

A large extent of open forests (61.18 % of the geographical area), particularly in the hilly

terrain, can have devastating impacts on the normal structure and the delicate interdependencies of

diverse flora and fauna in the forest eco-system. The situation is likely to be further aggravated by the

prevalence of shifting cultivation in the State. These two critical issues - the ‘openness in forest

47

canopy’ and the ‘practice of shifting cultivation’ - call for an urgent need to suitably formulate and

effectively implement results-oriented forest conservation strategies.

Other major issues being faced by the forest eco-system in Mizoram are (1) extent of

wastelands, (2) low crop-productivity, (3) terrain having steep slopes, (4) eco-tourism - not fully

utilized, and (5) insufficient value addition to forest produce and marketing of value-added products.

The Environment and Forest Department of the State is facing the challenge to address these

identified issues so as to ensure ecological security in the State while meeting the forest-based

economic needs of the people.

Realizing the need for enforcing effective forest conservation practices, the Department has

set an inspiring vision to “achieve well-stocked high-quality forests with rich bio-diversity for

maintaining ecological balance and ensuring environmental stability while meeting the forest-based

needs of the local people”. The Department has crafted a crystal-clear mission for guiding its

activities. The mission statement is “to increase the area under forest cover and enhance the quality

of existing forests thereby creating healthy environment for the people through the (1) application of

the principles of sustainable forest management, (2) adoption of effective silvicultural practices, and

(3) involvement of the local people actively in planning, implementation, and monitoring of schemes

for conservation of the forests and preservation of the wildlife”.

Recent Management Practices

Ongoing Schemes

In order to achieve the vision of a well-stocked high-quality forests, several schemes such as

(1) National Afforestation Programme (NAP), (2) Intensification of Forest Management Scheme

(IFMS), (3) Green Mizoram Programme, (4) National Bamboo Mission (NBM), (5) In-situ and ex-situ

conservation of medicinal plants, (6) conservation of aquatic eco-systems, (7) development and

management of wildlife habitats, (8) Tiger Conservation Plan, (9) Projects under Thirteen Finance

Commission Grants-in-Aid for forests, (10) JICA assisted capacity-development project, and (11)

Green India Mission (GIM) are being implemented in the State. “National Afforestation Programme”

provides necessary thrust to tree plantations over open areas with people’s active participation.

Deeply concerned about the continued loss of healthy forest cover, the State Government

launched “Green Mizoram Programme” in 1999 for planting trees on barren lands including private,

Government, and Semi-Government lands. Every year, a particular day in the month of June is

observed as “Green Mizoram Day”, which is sincerely dedicated to planting of trees as well as

maintenance of trees planted in previous years. Trees are planted at identified sites by the

Government and the Semi-Government Departments, the Non-Government Organizations, the

Educational Institutions, and the Public. So far, more than 20 lakh seedlings have been planted or

distributed for planting under this programme. Total number of seedlings planted, year-wise, under

“Gren Mizoram Programme” has been shown below in Figure 2.

48

For reinforcing measures of forest protection and improving forest health, an scheme namely

“Intensification of Forest Management”, earlier known as “Integrated forest Protection”, is being

implemented in the State with assistance from the Government of India. Under this program,

emphasis has been given on (1) Forest Fire Control and Management, (2) Strengthening of

Infrastructure for Forest Protection, (3) working Plan Preparation/Survey and Demarcation, (4) Control

and Eradication of Forest Invasive Species, and (5) Preparedness for Meeting Challenges of Bamboo

Flowering and Improving Management of Bamboo Forests.

People’s Participation in Conservation of the Forests

The State of Mizoram moved from State regulation to people’s participation for managing its rich

forest wealth by adopting the “Joint Forest Management” (JFM) through a notification issued in 1998.

The introduction of JFM established a new mutually-beneficial relationship between the forests, the

people and the State. The basic objective for adopting the mechanism of JFM in the State was to

encourage active involvement of the local people in enrichment, protection and sustainable

management of the forests.

It was envisaged to impart sense of ownership over the forest areas covered under JFM to

the villagers. Guidelines for managing the forests with people’s participation were framed. As per

these guidelines, the local people participating in managing the forests and the State would share the

forest produce, which may be extracted from the areas covered under JFM by applying scientific

principles of sustainable management.

The organizational structure for managing the forests with constructive participation of the

local people, at present, consisted of three levels in the State i.e. (1) State Forest Development

Agency (SFDA) at the State level, (2) Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) at the divisional level,

172511

197054

128215

104087

64072

207919

104875

59715

161683 158673

292051

208853

120904

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

350000

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Figure 2 :

Seedlings planted/distributed under Green Mizoram Program

49

and (3) Village Forest Development Committees (VFDCs) at the village level. Eco-Development

Committees (EDCs) have been constituted for the villages located near the protected areas. The

existing guidelines for JFM included (1) the procedures for constituting SFDA, FDAs and

VFDCs/EDCs, (2) their duties and responsibilities, (3) methodology of preparing micro-plans, their

effective implementation, and timely monitoring, (4) fund flow mechanism, and (5) disposal of forest

produce and sharing of benefits.

For involving the local people in planning, implementation, and monitoring of schemes for

forest management, one SFDA, 21 FDAs and 598 VFDCs/EDCs have been constituted in Mizoram.

Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been signed between SFDA and FDAs and also

between various FDAs and VFDCs/EDCs.

Works under centrally sponsored scheme - “National Afforestation Programme” (NAP) - are

mainly taken up by VFDCs/EDCs through FDAs. Revised operational guidelines for implementing

NAP through JFM were issued in the year 2009 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests,

Government of India. These guidelines were aimed at (1) strengthening institutional arrangements for

project implementation (capacity building), (2) treatment of highly degraded lands (problem lands), (3)

application of latest nursery and plantation techniques, (4) generation of additional sustainable

income for members of VFDCs/EDCs through value addition to forest produce and linkage to better

markets for forest-based products. The Government of Mizoram has adopted these revised guidelines

by issuing notification in 2010.

The scheme - NAP - is being implemented effectively in Mizoram through the mechanism of

JFM. Plantations raised under NAP are being protected through joint efforts of the local people and

the Government agencies. It is expected that enrichment, protection, and sustainable management of

the forests through JFM will provide substantial benefits to the local people while contributing

significantly to ecological equilibrium and environmental stability.

Bamboo Policy of Mizoram

Bamboos in Mizoram are ecologically significant and also have the potential to revolutionize

the economy as these resources can be used as industrial raw material and as substitute for wood in

house construction, handicrafts, furniture, and engineering works. Therefore, for sustainable

development and utilization of bamboo resources, the State Government framed the “Bamboo Policy”

in 2002. Suitable strategies such as (1) protection of mountain ecology and environment through

conservation of bamboo forests, (2) dedicated land use for bamboo development, (3) assessment of

bamboo resources and their scientific management (4) regulation of bamboo harvesting, (5)

establishment of bamboo-based industries with marketing linkages and (5) research and development

for enhancing the quality of bamboo forests have been formulated.

50

Managerial Interventions for Bamboo Forests

In order to achieve the objectives envisaged in the Bamboo Policy, several schemes such as

“Bamboo Flowering and Famine Combat Scheme”, “Management of Gregarious Flowering of Muli

Bamboo in the North-East”, and projects under the “National Bamboo Mission” have been

implemented for enrichment, protection, and sustainable management of the bamboo resources in the

State. Projects for increasing the coverage of area under bamboo with suitable species to enhance

yields, training of farmers in use of latest technologies, pest and disease management, and promoting

marketing of bamboo and bamboo-based handicrafts have been taken up under the “National

Bamboo Mission” (NBM).

Soil properties and climatic conditions in the State are suitable for healthy growth of

commercially-viable bamboo species. Further, enrichment, conservation, and sustainable utilization of

bamboo resources have the potential to provide significant financial benefits to the local people, the

society, and the State Government as the demand for bamboo-based products is increasing rapidly.

Therefore, it is required to (1) make quantitative assessment of bamboo species occurring in the

State, (2) effectively implement planned schemes enhancing the quality of existing bamboo stock, (3)

formulate and execute strategies to provide employment and additional earnings to the local youth by

sustainably exploiting the wealth of bamboo resources, and (4) create a database to facilitate further

research in improving the productivity of bamboo forests.

Additional Planned Schemes

Additional schemes such as (1) bio-diversity conservation and sustainable forest

management, (2) sustainable land and eco-system management, and (3) green value-addition chain

have been planned by the department for conservation of sites rich in biodiversity, ecological

restoration of wastelands, improvement in crop productivity, exploitation of eco-tourism potential,

value addition to forest produce, and marketing linkages for value-added products.

Conclusion

Through implementation of ongoing and planned schemes, it is expected to have ecological

security in the State while meeting livelihood needs of the local people. With active people’s

participation and support from conservation-oriented NGOs, forestry experts working in local

academic institutions and other stakeholders, execution of planned strategies will give desired

outcomes. The forests in Mizoram have the potential to give maximum eco-system services and that

potential should be sustainably exploited for people’s benefits.

References:

� Department of Environment and Forests, Government of Mizoram (1991).Progress Report of

Forestry in Mizoram 1990. Aizawl: Membi Press.

� Department of Environment and Forests, Government of Mizoram (2006).Mizoram Forest 2006.

Aizawl: LM Offset Tuikhuahtlang.

� Environment and Forest Department, Government of Mizoram (2010).Bamboos of Mizoram.

Dehradun: Print World.

51

� Forest Survey of India (2011). India State of Forest Report 2011.

� Forest Survey of India (2011). Atlas: Forest Types of India. First Edition. Dehradun: FSI.

� Government of Mizoram (2004).Statistical Abstract: Department of Agriculture and Minor

Irrigation 2003-04. Aizawl: Directorate of Agriculture and Minor Irrigation, Government of

Mizoram.

� Government of Tripura (2007).Tripura Human Development Report, 2007. New Delhi : Tulika

Print Communication Services. Retrieved through

� http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/stateplan/sdr_pdf/tripura%20hdr.pdf on 09.06.2012

DEVELOPMENT OF MINOR IRRIGATION IN MIZORAM

Directorate of

Mizoram receives good monsoon rains and the average monthly rainfall

during the last twenty eight years is given in the following table:

Aizawl Champhai Kolasib

Jan 11.00 10.94

Feb 27.60 20.17

Mar 99.60 71.65 101.40

Apr 191.40 127.05 215.50

May 373.70 250.39 342.10

Jun 449.50 355.50 431.10

Jul 519.60 374.88 463.70

Aug 557.60 392.01 514.70

Sep 529.50 400.53 444.90

Oct 295.50 234.03 218.40

Nov 67.30 62.24

Dec 29.30 19.98

Total 3151.60 2319.37 2834.00

MonthDistrict-wise average monthly rainfall (1986 - 2013)

Even with this much of annual

uneven seasonal distribution of rainfall as illustrated in the following pie chart:

SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL (1986

Water being vital input for rice cultivation

irrigation had been started as early as when WRC cultivation was first introduced in Champhai and

North Vanlaiphai areas during the first part of the 20

constructed during the British period are still there to be seen at several places like Keilungliah and

Phaizau areas at Champhai.

Kharif

(June-Oct)

74.82%

52

DEVELOPMENT OF MINOR IRRIGATION IN MIZORAM

By

Directorate of Minor irrigation, Govt. of Mizoram

Mizoram receives good monsoon rains and the average monthly rainfall

years is given in the following table:

Kolasib Mamit Serchhip Lunglei Lawngtlai

9.00 9.80 5.90 6.20 10.30

36.60 14.60 20.90 15.30 18.10

101.40 86.60 81.60 61.60 47.20

215.50 236.80 116.10 110.60 116.70

342.10 451.00 330.10 309.40 327.60

431.10 432.20 426.30 462.50 474.30

463.70 397.20 405.60 466.00 482.80

514.70 529.10 395.00 462.60 389.70

444.90 480.30 330.10 417.80 350.70

218.40 309.60 184.80 225.60 206.80

36.70 26.00 62.80 46.70 53.00

19.90 9.20 21.60 12.20 5.80

2834.00 2982.40 2380.80 2596.50 2483.00 2611.30

District-wise average monthly rainfall (1986 - 2013)

Even with this much of annual rainfall, irrigation is still indispensable due to

uneven seasonal distribution of rainfall as illustrated in the following pie chart:

SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL (1986 - 2013)

Water being vital input for rice cultivation, we may claim that works on

irrigation had been started as early as when WRC cultivation was first introduced in Champhai and

North Vanlaiphai areas during the first part of the 20th century. Till today, irrigation channels

period are still there to be seen at several places like Keilungliah and

(Nov

(March

Mizoram receives good monsoon rains and the average monthly rainfall

Saiha

11.70 9.36

24.10 22.17

46.70 74.54

103.80 152.24

371.40 344.46

457.10 436.06

434.40 443.02

450.10 461.35

398.10 418.99

230.30 238.13

71.40 53.27

12.20 16.27

2611.30 2669.87

Mizoram

rainfall, irrigation is still indispensable due to

2013)

, we may claim that works on

irrigation had been started as early as when WRC cultivation was first introduced in Champhai and

century. Till today, irrigation channels

period are still there to be seen at several places like Keilungliah and

Rabi

(Nov- Feb),

3.79%

Summer

(March- May),

21.40%

53

Irrigation was implemented as a scheme from the year 1974-75 when Minor

Irrigation Scheme was included in the Annual Plan of Agriculture Department. Works on Minor

Irrigation Scheme were implemented by way of granting 50% of the total cost to individuals or groups

of beneficiaries as grant-in-aid subsidy while beneficiaries bear the remaining 50% of the cost. This

practice continued to be the modus operandi till 1983-84 when Government of Mizoram decided to

take up Minor Irrigation Schemes on project basis bearing full project cost like the way it is

implemented now.

Minor Irrigation Wing was established with one division and two sub-divisions

in the Directorate of Agriculture in September 1984. Minor Irrigation Wing started functioning with

separate Annual Plan and Budget from the year 1985-86; since then there had been incremental

increased in the establishment and annual plan outlay. By the time Minor Irrigation Wing was

separated from Agriculture Department and upgraded into Department of Minor Irrigation in 30th May,

2007, there are four works divisions and nine sub-divisions. The Department was strengthened and

re-structured into full-fledged engineering department in October, 2008. The department is now

headed by Chief Engineer supported by two Superintending Engineers and five Executive Engineers

in the headquarters; in the fields, there are four working divisions with ten sub-divisions.

Present organization chart is given below:

CHIEF ENGINEER

E.O. to C.E. Research Officer

F.A.O. Deputy Director (Admn)

Superintendent

Superintending Engineer(Planning & Monitoring)

Superintending Engineer(Works & Design)

Executive Engineer(Survey & Investigation)

Assistant Engineer(Works)

Executive Engineer(Works)

Executive EngineerAizawl Division

Executive EngineerChamphai Division

Executive EngineerLunglei Division

Executive EngineerKolasib Division

SDOSerchhip

SDOChamphai

SDOKhawzawl

SDOSaiha

SDOKolasib

SDOZawlnuam

SDOLawngtlai

SDO (TC)SDO (TC)SDO (TC)

Assistant Engineer(Planning)

C H

I E

F E

N G

I N

E E

R

O F

FI C

E

SDOAizawl

SDOChawngte

Assistant Engineer(Monitoring)

SDO (TC)

Executive Engineer(Planning)

Executive Engineer(Monitoring)

SDOLunglei

Minor Irrigation Department is implementing three schemes, namely, Minor

Irrigation Scheme, Command Area Development & Water Management Scheme and Anti Erosion

Scheme.

54

Minor Irrigation Schemes:

Minor Irrigation Schemes provides scopes for construction of project

approach roads, water harvesting structures and/or diversion weir, irrigation channel, field

channel, field drains, farm road and land leveling & shaping. The source of funding is

Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) under which 90% of the project cost is

received from Government of India as Central Assistance and 10% as State Share.

Command Area Development & Water Management Programme:

55

To enhance utilization of created potentials, development of command areas

in completed minor irrigation projects is taken up under Command Area Development &

Water Management Programme. The funding pattern is 50:50 Government of India and State

Government.

Anti Erosion Schemes under Flood Management Programme:

To control and manage erosion due to heavy rain and long monsoon season

and check further damage to the agricultural field, Anti-erosion scheme is taken up by the

department. The funding pattern of Flood Management Programme under AIBP is 70% Central

Grant and 30% State Share and the mode of release of fund is in two installments during a year

Due to hilly topography, agriculture potential areas are small and scattered,

even the largest pockets or clusters of agriculture potential areas like Champhai and Mat Valley,

Serchhip are less than 1000 ha; virtually, there is no scope for major or medium irrigation project in

56

Mizoram. At present, all minor irrigation schemes are surface water schemes; most of the projects are

flow irrigation schemes and those few projects involving installation of pump sets are flow-cum-lift

irrigation schemes.

As per estimation of Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre, Science &

Technology Department, Aizawl, total WRC potential area is 74,644 ha. So far, 439 minor irrigation

projects covering 18,228 ha command area have been completed and area covered by completed

minor irrigation schemes/projects vis-à-vis WRC potential area (district-wise) is given in the following

table:

1 Aizawl 357,631 4,140 63 1,089 2,379 57.46%

2 Mamit 302,575 20,182 41 481 1,639 8.12%

3 Kolasib 138,251 9,429 78 1,151 3,745 39.72%

4 Champhai 318,583 8,697 88 384 3,806 43.76%

5 Serchhip 142,160 3,710 51 793 2,528 68.14%

6 Lunglei 453,800 12,797 60 744 2,129 16.64%

7 Lawngtlai 255,710 11,405 33 553 1,387 12.16%

8 Saiha 139,990 4,284 25 183 615 14.36%

2,108,700 74,644 439 5,378 18,228 24.42%

% from WRC

Potential area

No. of

benefi-

ciaries

No. of

competed

projects

Total:

Sl.

No

Name of

District

Geog. Area

(ha)

WRC

potential

Areas*

(ha)

CCA*

(ha)

Participation of project beneficiaries has assumed vital role in successful

implementation of Minor Irrigation Schemes in Mizoram. To enhance sense of ownership and

responsibilities, prospective beneficiaries are involved right from the stage of project formulation to

post-project management after completion of the project. In fact, participations of project beneficiaries

promote transparency of minor irrigation schemes.

Prospective project beneficiaries are involved in the process of project

formulation through their active participation in survey & investigation and assessment of their

development needs which may be covered by minor irrigation scheme within the prevailing norms and

guidelines. For taking up new project, due care and consideration to identify development needs and

aspirations of the farmers are taken by having joint field visits and series of discussions and

interactions with the prospective project beneficiaries before preparation and finalization of DPR.

Water Users Associations are formed once the project beneficiaries are

identified and they extend active participation in supervision of works during the stage of project

implementation.

On completion of the projects, Water Users Associations share the

responsibilities of operation & maintenance of irrigation structures - while Water Users Association

assume the responsibilities of operation of irrigation structures and allotment of irrigation water, Minor

Irrigation Department execute works on repairs and reconstruction of damaged irrigation structures

with active participation and contribution from the project beneficiaries in the form of labour. A number

57

of completed Minor Irrigation Projects have been formally handed over to Water Users Association

after they are officially registered under Cooperative Society Acts.

Mizoram have not received any release of Central Assistance under AIBP

during last two years due to the considerable time taken for making policy decision on the mode of

implementation of AIBP during the 12th Plan and finalization of the ensuing new guidelines, new

guidelines for CAD&WMP was issued as late as in December, 2013. Presently, proposals for

implementation of 66 new minor irrigation projects are lying with Ministry of Water Resources for

release of Central Assistance under AIBP for which proposal for release of corresponding state share

has been submitted to Government of Mizoram.

The proposals may be summarized as follows:

Sl.

NoName of District

No. of

projects

Total Cost (Rs

in lakh)CCA* (ha)

IPC**

(ha)

No. of

Benefi-

ciaries

1 Aizawl 8 860.00 350 551 301

2 Champhai 12 1,716.09 729 1008 388

3 Kolasib 14 1,637.85 658 885 357

4 Mamit 9 846.70 342 619 148

5 Serchhip 9 1,185.28 493 661 216

6 Lunglei 6 972.34 399 625 180

7 Lai ADC*** 3 515.17 207 301 74

8 Mara ADC*** 3 805.50 324 451 120

9 Chakma ADC*** 2 251.31 101 157 56

66 8,790.24 3603 5258 1840Total :

*Culturable Command Area **Irrigation Potential Created

*** Autonomous District Council

All the rivers and mountain streams in Mizoram State are rain fed; due to

uneven rainfall distribution over the months, fluctuation of their discharges is very high – peak

discharge during monsoon season is several hundred times higher than that of the discharge during

lean season, and many of the mountain streams which are perennial till recent years have gone dry

during summer due to deforestation of catchment areas and change in climate causing erratic rainfall

since the last few years. Therefore, it is high time concerted efforts are given to ‘Integrated Land and

Water Resource Management’.

58

INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (IWMP) AND ITS

IMPLEMENTATION IN MIZORAM

By

Directorate of Rural Development Department, Govt. of Mizoram

Introduction:

Watershed is defined as a hydro-geological unit of area from which the rainwater drains

through a single outlet. Watershed development refers to the conservation, regeneration

and judicious use of all the natural resources (like land, water, plants, animals) by human

beings.

Watershed Management brings about the best possible balance between natural

resources on the one side and human beings on the other. Human beings and the

ecology are interdependent. The changes in the environment directly affect the lives of

the people depending on it. A degraded environment means a degraded quality of life of

the people. This degradation can be tackled effectively through the holistic development

of the watershed. A watershed provides a natural geo-hydrological unit for planning any

developmental initiative.

The main objectives of the IWMP are to restore the ecological balance by harnessing,

conserving and developing degraded natural resources such as soil, vegetative cover and

water. The outcomes are prevention of soil erosion, regeneration of natural vegetation,

rain water harvesting and recharging of the ground water table. This enables multi-

cropping and the introduction of diverse agro-based activities, which help to provide

sustainable livelihoods to the people residing in the watershed area.

Key Points of IWMP:

� Launched in 2009-10 by the integration of various area development programmes of the

Department of Land Resources, including the Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP),

the Desert Development Programme (DDP) and the Integrated Wastelands Development

Programme (IWDP).

� Cost sharing ratio of Central Government : State Government = 90 : 10

� 9% of the project cost is earmarked for development of livelihoods for asset-less people

� 10% of the project cost is for productivity enhancement and development of micro-

enterprises for small & marginal farmers.

� An average size of project under the IWMP is about 5,000 ha which is cluster of micro-

watersheds.

� A portion of institution & capacity building (5% of the total project cost) has been provided

to set up institutional mechanism at State, District, Project and Village levels and to build

capacities of stakeholders.

� It also entails involvement of primary stakeholders in the form of grassroots community

organizations.

59

c) Water Harvesting Structure

- Water Reservoir

- Percolation Tanks

- Rain Water Harvesting

Tank

- Pond/ fishery

-etc.

b) Soil & Moisture Conservation

- Wetland Rice Cultivation

(WRC)

- Terracing (different types)

- Bunding

- Checkdams

-etc.

The salient features of IWMP are as below:

Setting up of Dedicated Institutions with multi-disciplinary experts at State level - State Level Nodal

Agency (SLNA), District level - Watershed Cell cum Data Centre (WCDC), Project level - Project

Implementing Agency (PIA) and Village level - Watershed Committee (WC).

Cluster Approach in selection and preparation of projects: Average size of project - about 5,000 ha.

Enhanced Cost Norms from Rs. 6000 per ha. to Rs.12,000/ha. in plains; Rs.15,000/ ha in difficult/hilly

areas.

Uniform Funding pattern of 90:10 between Centre & States.

Release of central assistance in three installments (20%, 50% & 30%) instead of five installments.

Flexibility in the project period i.e. 4 to 7 years

Scientific planning of the projects by using IT, remote sensing techniques, GIS facilities for planning

and monitoring & evaluation.

Earmarking of project funds for DPR preparation (1%), Entry point activities (4%), Capacity building

(5%), Monitoring (1%) and Evaluation (1%).

Introduction of new livelihood component with earmarking of project fund under Watershed Projects

i.e. 9% of project fund for livelihoods for assetless people and 10% for production system & micro-

enterprises.

Delegation of power of sanction of projects to States.

Activities under IWMP:

The main activities are Watershed Development Works which comprises 56% of total fund with

Livelihood for assetless (9%) and Production & Micro-enterprise (10%). Major activities and their

components are:

A. Watershed Works

Watershed Works is again distributed in three major activities having different components by each

activity.

a) Horticulture:

- Plantation

- Afforestation

-etc.

B. Livelihood for assetless

It is undertaken through Self Help Group (SHG) which is usually formed by landless people and

marginal people and especially among women having common interest. Grant-in-aid may also be

given according to their performances. No. of member ranges from 5-10. Major activities are:

a) Poultry

b) Piggery

c) Goat rearing

60

d)Petty Trade

e) Handicraft

f) etc.

C. Production & Micro-enterprise

It is mainly undertaken through individual assistance, sometimes if convenient, SHG is also formed.

The works under Production & Micro-enterprise should be inter-benefited to the user (beneficiary)

and the village people. Main activities are:

a) Tinsmithy

b) Blacksmithy

c)Petty Trade

d)Small Industry

e) Handicraft

f) Tailoring

g) Carpentry

h) Animal rearing

i) etc.

IWMP Profile since the inception:

IWMP started in Mizoram during 2009-2010 consisting 16 Projects covering 54 villages with total

project area of 64235 Ha. With the latest approved Projects, Mizoram State is now undertaking 89

IWMP Projects with total area of 373915 ha. covering 299 villages. The total project cost for these

projects is 56087.250 lakhs. A sum of Rs. 12636.609 lakhs is already received for all the

implementation of IWMP works and total expenditure is Rs. 11984.269 lakhs.

Batch-wise status of all projects:

Batch Year No. of

Projects

Project Area

(Ha.)

Project Cost

(Rs. In lakh)

No. of village

covered

Batch-I 2009-2010 16 62435 9365.25 54

Batch-II 2010-2011 16 65880 9882 64

Batch-III 2011-2012 17 72094 10814.1 57

Batch-IV 2012-2013 15 59144 8871.6 49

Batch-V 2013-2014 14 57782 8667.3 46

Batch-VI 2014-2015 11 56580 8487 29

TOTAL 89 373915 56087.250 299

Funding Pattern for IWMP.

61

Project is Govt. Of India Centrally Sponsored Scheme in which the Central Government and the

State Government share each other in 90:10. The fund comes in three respective phase with different

installment such as:

I Phase (20%) - Preparatory Phase

Ist Installment - 6%

IInd

Installment -14%

II Phase (50%) - Work Phase

Ist Installment - 25%

IInd

Installment - 25%

III Phase (30%) - Consolidation Phase

Ist Installment - 30%

A NOTE ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION

By

Directorate of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Govt. of Mizoram

62

The Urban Development activities in Mizoram were previously taken up by Local Administration Department and State PWD in addition to their assignment and in fact, there have not been Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation activities until recently. With the establishment of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Department during 2006-07, various urban development initiatives as well as urban poverty alleviation programmes are taken up. The Schemes of 10% lumpsum Provision for NER Schemes, JNNURM Schemes, SJSRY, RAY, ADB assisted Schemes are also being implemented in the state. There has been remarkable achievement during the last five years as enumerated below:-

i 10% Lumpsum provision for

NER Schemes

: Work in progress

(i) Water Supply Schemes – 3 nos.

(ii) Slum Development Programmes – 8 Towns

ii JNNURM Projects/Schemes

(i) BSUP : 1098 dwelling unit

(ii) IHSDP : 1950 dwelling unit

(iii) Water Supply Schemes : 3 nos.

iii SJSRY Projects : 16948 Nos. Urban Youth given training and 540 Nos. Self

Help Group given loan and subsidies.

i

v

RAY Pilot Project at Aizawl, Zuangtui is being under

implementing which contain 142 Dwelling Unit with some

Urban Infrastructure are approved by Govt. of India and

work is going on.

More Over, Project for Slum Free City Plan for Aizawl and

Lunglei is preparing and the Survey, GIS/MIS mapping

completed. HUDCO is finalizing DPR soon

v ADB Assisted Schemes

(NERCCDIP)

: Financing Facilities with total investment of Rs. 330 crores

for 7 years envisages service improvement for Aizawl

Water Supply, Sewerage and Sanitation with Solid Waste

Management.

For future development, Aizawl Master Plan has been approved and revised City Development Plan of Aizawl has been prepared and is expected to complete soon.

GEOSPATIAL APPROACH ON INTEGRATED LAND & WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT A CASE STUDY OF NORTH VANLAIPHAI VILLAGE COUNCIL AREA, SERCHHIP DISTRICT

By Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC), Aizawl

Introduction

63

Resources management for sustained utilization of natural resources has been the need of the hour for every developing nation. Initiatives taken by the government in this aspect requires reliable qualitative and quantitative information for the planning to be realistic, effective and sustained in the long run. Geospatial approach of planning has emerged as an effective and reliable platform to assist in this process of developmental planning even at the grass-root level. Advancement in space technology has brought various improvements in mapping of earth's resources and has helped in evolving improved techniques of geospatial planning. In the context of land use planning, geospatial techniques and models have been researched and developed for its effective use in sustainable development of land and water resources by integration of various GIS layers, which further demonstrates that geospatial techniques help in generation of a reliable spatial and non-spatial information database. The present case study incorporates Remote sensing and GIS techniques to map natural resources and to formulate viable land and water resource management plans for improved land use system which envisages better sustained utilization and productivity. The study covers a village in Serchhip district, i.e, N.Vanlaiphai village, wherein an integrated approach of land and water resource management has been generate that encompasses every aspect of land, water and socio-economic component of the village. An integration of these components in a GIS environment has helped in formulation of different suitable land use scenarios with economic and biophysical benefits. The results of this study presents constructive options for land and water resource developments in the study area. This information will be very useful for decision makers to plan according to the schemes and resources available at hand. Study Area The study area i.e, N.Vanlaiphai village council occupies a geographical area of 62.36 sqkm to the south-western part of Serchhip District between 23°09'31'' & 23°04'37'' latitudes and 92°59'39'' & 93°07'48'' longitudes. It is well known for its vast wet rice cultivation areas, hillocks and land-locked features. The study area is also one of the notified towns of Serchhip district that is well connected with road network and also an important well known administrative spot for surrounding other villages. According to the 2011 Census, the total population of the study area was 3605 with a literacy percent of 86.10%. The main occupation of the inhabitants is mostly agricultural farming, of which shifting cultivation is predominant. Permanent agricultural and horticultural plantations are also taken up the farmers.

Fig 1. Location map of Study area

Methodology IRS LISS IV, Cartosat I (stereo pair ortho kit) and Quickbird satellite data were utilized to prepare base maps and to map the land use / land cover of the study area. Ancillary data including past records/reports/maps collected from various Government sources were used for reference and collection of primary data. Survey of India Toposheets were also utilized for preparing and obtaining base maps and physiographic information.

64

Standard techniques of Remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) was followed for mapping of the land use/ land cover features. Image processing and enhancements was carried out using Image Processing system (Erdas Imagine) and Geographic Information System (Arc Info) to increase the visual perceptibility of land use features. On-screen digitization and visual interpretation method was used for classifying and delineating the various land use / land cover classes from the satellite data. Cartosat I was utilized to derive and generate other ancillary information (eg. roads, drainage) and also effectively used for generation of slope maps. These maps and GIS layers are first prepared prior to generating land and water resource plans. They constitute important base layer information of existing natural resources which will later assist in preparation of proposed plans.

Geospatial planning of the water resources in the study area has been done with reference to

the proposed land use systems. Most of the proposed land use systems require adequate supply of water not only for improved crop production but also to facilitate a balance in soil moisture content. Therefore, the planning of water resources has to go in tandem with the planned land use systems. The inclusion of base layers like drainage, contour, soil, road, and slope layers are also important pre-requisite data during this planning process. The placement of proposed water resource structures in the study area relies on the integration of these layers as well as the proposed land use plan in a GIS environment. Geospatial Land and Water Resource management The geospatial planning and management for development of land and water resources in the study area (Fig. 2) was prepared keeping in mind the objectives of making best use of available land for socio-economic improvement and to facilitate dependence of farmers on permanent farming system. Various sustainable land use practices (as shown in Table 1) were modeled using the layers generated in GIS environment and considerations were also given to the socio-feasibility and implementation by incorporating data from ground surveys. The elaborative drainage network in the study area has potential for aiding in better crop production if these water sources are utilized in an effective manner. With the help of relevant layers in a GIS environment, structures like check dam, rainwater harvesting ponds, intake weirs, distribution tanks and irrigations channels were plotted in various locations of the study area. These structures could not only help in water conservation and recharging of ground water but also assist in better utilization of whatever water resource is available in a sustainable way.

On the basis of various parameters of the present land use, slope percent and soil conditions in the study area, a geospatial plan for improved land use system was generated. There are various criteria adopted for this purpose as given in Table No. 1 and the process of generating these proposed land use systems were done in a GIS environment.

S.No. Present Land

Use Slope Soil

Proposed Land

Use

1

Single cropped agricultural land, current jhum, abandoned jhum

0 – 25%

Fine Loamy Fluventic Dystrochrepts and Fine Loamy Fluvaquentic Dystrochrepts, very deep, good moisture.

Wet Rice Cultivation (WRC)/ Pisciculture.

65

2

Single cropped agricultural land, current jhum, abandoned jhum

25 – 35%

Fine Loamy Fluventic Dystrochrepts and Fine Loamy Fluvaquentic Dystrochrepts, deep, good moisture.

Terrace cultivation

3 Current jhum, abandoned jhum

35 – 50%

Fine Loamy Typic Dystrochrepts. Loamy Skeletal Umbric Dystrochrepts and clayey, Typic Haplohumults, very deep, good moisture.

Agro-Horticulture

4

Existing plantation. Bamboo, current jhum & abandoned jhum adjacent to road communication.

25 – 50%

Fine Loamy Typic Dystrochrepts. Loamy Skeletal Typic Hapludults and clayey, Typic Haplohumults, very deep, good moisture.

Agri/Horti plantations

5 Scrub lands, hill top/crest

25 – 50% Loamy Skeletal Typic Dystrochrepts, deep, moderate moisture

Silvi-pasture

6

Current jhum, abandoned jhum, open forest

More than 50%

Loamy Skeletal Typic Dystrochrepts and Loamy Skeletal Typic Hapludults, deep, moderate moisture

Afforestation

7 Forest (dense & open) and bamboo

- - To be conserved as forest and bamboo reserves

Table 1. Guidelines for generation of Proposed Land use systems

66

Fig 2. Integrated Land & Water Resource Plan map of North Vanlaiphai V.C. Area

Table 2. Statistics of proposed Land Development Plan

67

Table 3. Statistics of proposed Water Development Plan

Conclusion

The study area - N.Vanlaiphai village represents diverse features of typical hilly terrain as well

as undulating and valley plains with abundant natural resources in its vicinity. Planning for land and

water resources in areas like these can be a challenging task as it involves a lot of parameters to be

taken into account, not to mention its management as well. As with many other villages elsewhere in

Mizoram, there can be social and cultural obligations that needs to be followed to ensure that such

better alternative plans and managements are effectively executed, even though it may incorporate

the most advanced and scientifically sound technology. The study has shown that whatever natural

resources found in the study area has to be utilized with conservation and limited optimization in

mind. The present method of farming and utilization of water resources will not last long if counter-

measures are not taken to adopt better packages of land and water resource management. Although,

there might be other permanent agricultural/horticultural lands, they constitute only a fraction of the

total land used for food production. Geospatial planning in the study area, thus, also focuses on

finding an alternative to shifting cultivation and indentifying land where alternative and productive form

of crop production can be adopted.

On a holistic view point, the correct approach to improved land use planning lies in

recognizing the importance of various natural resources in sustaining the livelihood of the locals and

considering its optimized utilization and strategic management according to its capability, as an

essential input during the planning process. This is where geospatial planning can play an important

role with its ability to incorporate both spatial and non-spatial data to generate realistic and effective

land and water resource plans. The context of geospatial planning and management in the present

case study has shed light on the possibility of using remote sensing and GIS in formulating viable

plans that adheres to identify the potential for extensive agriculture and horticulture crop cultivation in

suitable areas, and at the same time management of land and water resources through this

technology.

68

References

Census of India (2011). Provisional Population totals - Mizoram. Tables.

Lallianthanga, R.K. & Robert Lalchhanhima Sailo (2013). Geospatial planning for improved land use

system in tropical hilly terrain : A case study of Serchhip District, Mizoram, India. Eco. Env. & Cons.

19 (2) : 2013; pp. (493-502)

Lallianthanga, R.K., Robert Lalchhanhima Sailo & Lalnunsiama Colney (2013). Identification of

potential wet rice cultivation areas in Mizoram, India: A Remote Sensing and GIS approach.

International Journal of Geology, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Vol.3 (2) May-August, pp.49-56.

MIRSAC (2007). Natural Resources Mapping of Mizoram using Remote Sensing and GIS, Serchhip

District (A Project Report). State Remote Sensing Centre, Science Technology & Environment,

Aizawl.

MIRSAC (2011). Atlas of Integrated Land Use Planning of Serchhip District, Mizoram. Mizoram

Remote Sensing Application Centre, Science & Technology, Aizawl.

69

10.933

120.9

189

362.7

434.7478.2 462.5

385.9

224.3

68.126.8

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Average rainfall in Aizawl District (mm)

(1986-2005)

RAINWATER HARVESTING AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

OPTIONS IN MIZORAM

By

Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department

BRIEF WATER PROBLEMS IN MIZORAM

The advice of the Assam State Government during 1949 to the Officials intending to

visit Mizoram goes ‘Due to the severe drinking water scarcity in Mizoram, intending visitors

are advised to go during the monsoon season only’1. From this quote, one may understand

the severe water crisis Mizoram has been into for the last many decades. Mizoram is entirely

under the direct influence of monsoon and receives good rainfall of about 2400 mm per

annum on an average. This Bar Chart shows the average rainfall pattern in Aizawl District

for the last 25 years from

1986-20052. The rainfall

usually concentrates during

the period of second half of

May to the first half of

October. Water is abundantly

available during the monsoon

period; however, once the

effect of monsoon ceases,

acute water scarcity follows

that normally ranges from

January to early May. In spite

of the PHE Department’s

achievement of 472

habitations Fully Covered

(FC) and 307 habitations Partially Coverage (PC) as on 1st April, 2014

3; the actual situation

even in some of the FC habitations are not very favorable. This is due to the fact that the

water sources are vulnerable which largely depend on performance of monsoon; a slight

variation in rainfall or brief delay of monsoon would directly result in momentary water

scarcity. Moreover, of late, there have been numerous reports on the water supply status

being slipping back from FC status to PC status due to depletion of yield of water sources.

Those water sources which were able to supply sufficient water in the past could no longer

sustain sufficient flow during dry seasons. It has become a big challenge for the PHE

Department to provide even the bare domestic water requirement in many rural villages. In

some of the acute difficult villages and towns, the Department even has to resort to supplying

drinking water by truck that is hauled several kilometers from downstream rivers incurring

huge sums of money every year. The water scarcity equally hits the agriculture system as

well. Many of the irrigation systems are not able to supply sufficient water during dry periods

and some fields have to be kept idle for want of water.

AN ANALYSIS OF REASONS OF WATER PROBLEMS:

The ceaseless water scarcity and continuous depleting water resources that haunts

Mizoram for so long can be attributable to the following reasons: i) The natural topography

and geological formation of the landscape: The general geology of Mizoram is represented

by a repetitive succession of neogene arenaceous and argillaceous sediments viz. sandstones,

siltstones, Shale and rare pockets of shell lime stones4. The successive alternative layers of

non-porous siltstones in between the sandstone layers obstruct percolation of rainwater deep

into the stable Groundwater level for effective recharge. Moreover, over 80% of the

70

geographical area of Mizoram comprises of long and steep gradient of hill-slopes which

encourage acceleration of the velocity of runoff that decimate percolation of rainwater into

the subsoil. ii) The man-made mismanagement of headwater catchment areas: A large

amount of the Mizoram water budget is driven by precipitation, evapo-transpiration and

surface runoff. Slowing the runoff down and increasing infiltration can tip the water budget

toward more storage and a concordant increase in watershed hydraulic residence. But, the

monsoon runoff water must be driven past the root zone to recharge groundwater reserves5.

However, the forests and vegetative covers in the headwater catchment areas are

continuously deteriorating due to the common practice of Shifting cultivation and

uncontrolled felling of trees. It is estimated that Mizoram loses approximately 50,000 ha of

forest area every year due to the shifting cultivation practices and other activities6. The ever

deteriorating forests and vegetative covers in the headwater catchment areas greatly

encourage higher runoff rate and soil erosion that negate recharge to the groundwater system

resulting in less availability of water in the downstream areas. Generally water is scarce

during January to May because the direct effect of monsoon has depleted and the

Groundwater is hardly able to feed the springs and streams to maintain their base flow.

THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO THE WATER PROBLEM – A MODEL SYSTEM

The management of water resources in hilly area is quite distinct from that of the

plain areas in a way that many of the conventional recharge systems being successfully

adopted in the plains are not applicable and less relevant. One needs to adopt selective

recharging systems in designing the water resources management system in hilly areas

depending on the site conditions and the geology of the underground rock formations. A

model of water resources management system which is believed to be the most appropriate

option in hilly areas like Mizoram shall be discussed here.

The model consists of three main activities as follows:

1. Improvement and development of upper land catchment areas:

The natural forest must be maintained in the upper land catchment areas.

Reforestation shall be done by planting new trees as well as conserving the native vegetation

and trees. One may be surprised to learn the adoption a very contrasting system of raising

forest in the catchment areas for increasing water availability as most of the literatures and

research papers indicate that forest trees consume water in the evapo-transpiration process

thereby decreasing the water availability! But, in the monsoon fed hilly areas like Mizoram,

the rainwater during monsoon generally percolate deep down and went past the root zone so

that loss of water through evapo-transpiration during dry season is considered almost

minimal. Maintenance of forest and vegetative covers shall rather favor protection of soil

from erosive nature of high velocity runoff, enhanced root systems, and improved forest floor

litter cover on the soil surface and promotion of greater macro-pore space in the soil which

altogether shall enhance the infiltration capacity of soil7. Since the State still has vast areas of

forest land, sufficient forest areas can be reserved and developed for catchment areas of the

water sources. The estimated catchment area in Mizoram may be seen at the table shown

below8.

Table: District wise estimated catchment area

District District wise estimated catchment area (Sq. Km)

Forest Aforestation Bamboo forest Total catchments

Aizawl 1450.19 501.04 602.97 2554.20

Champhai 2014.40 325.28 126.48 2466.16

Kolasib 425.96 65.43 477.54 968.93

Lawngtlai 775.57 370.52 787.59 1933.68

71

Lunglei 1719.90 401.16 1361.40 3482.46

Mamit 1259.66 292.45 649.42 2201.53

Saiha 678.53 122.91 280.40 1081.84

Serchhip 548.74 151.26 397.62 1097.62

TOTAL 8,872.95 2,230.05 4,683.42 15,786.42

Source: Natural Resources Map; MIRSAC, 2006.

Within the catchment areas, artificially induced focused recharge shall further be

affected through (a) halting or slowing down the velocity of surface runoff by construction of

obstacles to the flow of water including, check dams, gabion structures and contour bunds9,

and (b) enhancing recharge through recharge pits, and recharge shafts.

Through higher infiltration, it is intended to provide greater recharge to the ground

water system so that base flow can be maintained at the down slope springs, rivers or

streams during dry seasons to benefit people in the downstream habitations. These actions

shall enable achieving making water available at the required place and at the required time

during dry periods. The corresponding recharge points with respect to the spring or stream at

downstream where water is needed shall be determined with the help of trial drilling and

isotope tracing.

2. Enhancing the capacity of underground aquifers:

The perennial flow in streams and rivers available during the months of February and

March are solely derived from ground water discharge because the effect of the monsoon rain

is typically depleted10

. So far as the limited study of groundwater in Mizoram is concerned,

there is no clearly defined aquifer throughout most of Mizoram and most ground water

movement occurs via lineaments and fractures. Most of the aquifers seen in Mizoram are

localized perched aquifers with small capacities that scattered here and there. As such, many

of the bore wells fitted with hand pumps that were drilled for supplementing village water

supply either dry up or yield very less during dry periods. In order to harvest and store more

rainwater, the underground aquifers need to be enlarged by hydro-fracturing process.

However, given the potential for mass failure of hill slopes, hydro-fracturing would be

limited to great depths (100-meters or deeper).

3. Enhancing the capacity of surface water reservoirs:

It is anticipated that enhancement of the water holding capacity of the underground

aquifers alone may not be sufficient to meet the water security plan for the Domestic and the

Agriculture water requirement. Enhancing the capacity of the surface water reservoirs in all

the potential areas shall also be an important factor in capturing the rainwater during

monsoon. It is therefore considered necessary to increase the surface water holding capacity

as well. In the year 2005, the Mizoram Institute of Remote Sensing Application Center

(MIRSAC), under the sponsorship of NEC, had taken up Natural Resources survey and

documentation of Action Plans. The MIRSAC made use of IRS-ID’s panchromatic data with

5.8m resolution that can be utilized for large scale mapping and LISS III FCC data that can

provide detailed information of the earth features and can be utilized for survey,

management, monitoring and planning of the natural resources. The baseline information on

Water Resources Action Plan as suggested by the MIRSAC is tabulated as under: However,

continuous survey and investigations need to go on to ascertain more viable locations for

construction of such structures and the process shall have to go on and on.

72

Table: WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALS

Sl.

No District

Rainwater Harvesting Structures

Bunds Check Dams Farm ponds Irrigation tanks

1 Azawl 42 102 57 46

2 Champhai 55 57 81 64

3 Kolasib 64 39 78 39

4 Lawngtlai 55 78 21 59

5 Lunglei 83 86 50 104

6 Mamit 91 132 167 106

7 Saiha 31 21 10 38

8 Serchhip 30 54 17 60

TOTAL 451 569 481 516

Source: Natural Resources Map; MIRSAC, 2006.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

It is a fact that the Watershed Management program is not a single component but

rather consists of multi-faceted, closely knit and interconnected components consisting of

various land use managements. The program needs to be implemented in a concerted manner

where various Government Departments and other stakeholders need to be involved and work

together and funds for various programs need to be pulled together and implement those sets

of Watershed components in a coordinated manner with far sighted common goal. The

various activities that may involve in this model Watershed Management option and various

stakeholders but not exhaustive, who may involve in the program are highlighted below: Sl.

No

Description of Items Stakeholders

1 Demarcation of potential head water

catchment area, Ground verification and

Final documentation.

i) Preparation of Digitized Map using

Satellite Imagery Data

Mizoram Institute of Remote Sensing Application Center

(MIRSAC)

ii) Ground verification MIRSAC, Concerned Villagers

iii) Documentation, Preparation of Master

Plan and Dissipation

MIRSAC, Various Concerned Government Departments

2 Development and Improvement of

Catchment Areas.

i) Conservation and Reforestation in

catchment areas through Social

Forestry Program

Forest and Environment Department, Concerned Villagers

ii) Construction of Check Dams Rural Development Department, Agriculture & Crop Husbandry

Department, Soil & Water Conservation Department, PHE

Department, Horticulture Department, Fisheries Department,

Minor Irrigation Department, etc.

iii) Construction of Contour Bunds

iv Construction of Farm Ponds

v) Construction of contour trenches, etc.

vi) Construction of recharge shaft @ Rs

45,000 per bore-well by manual

drilling)

PHE Department

3 Procurement of Bore-well Drilling Rig

with Hydro-fracturing facility.

PHE Department

73

4 Drilling of Bore-well and hydro-

fracturing

PHE Department

5 Capacity building and mass awareness

campaign

All Stakeholders

Key issues for discussion:

1. Declaration of PHE Department as Water Authority in Mizoram

2. Convergence of various programs and Funds of Ministry of RD, Government of India,

Ministry of Water Resources, Govt of India, Ministry of Drinking Water, Govt of

India.

3. Coordination of various Implementing Departments to formulate joint Action Plan

and Joint Implementation Strategy.

4. Establishment of Coordinating authority to initiate Coordination of various

stakeholders.

References:

1 PHED, Mizoram souvenir, 2008. PHED Mizoram.

2 Rainfall Data, Agriculture Department, Government of Mizoram

3 Yearly Data Updation, 2014, PHED, Mizoram, 2013

4 Geological Report, 2007 , Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, Ranchi.

5 An analysis of Mizoram water resources 2013, Magner, University of Minnesota

6 NLUP Document, Government of Mizoram

7 Hydrology and the Management of Watersheds, Kenneth N Brooks, et al.

8 Natural Resources Mapping of Mizoram,2006, MIRSAC

9 Rainwater harvesting Model Designs select for MGNREGA funded Projects, Ministry

of Water Resources, Govt of India

74

Shale

Sandstone

Sandstone

Recharge shaft

PLAN

SECTIONAL

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF RECHARGING

75

CONTENTS

1. INTEGRATED LAND AND WATER RESOURCES IN HILLY AREAS OF INDIA

By Dr S.C. Patra, Professor, NERIWALM, Tezpur

1-9

2. COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY OF NEW LAND USE POLICY (NLUP),

GOVT. OF MIZORAM

By NLUP Implementing Board

10-14

3. PROGRAMS BY AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT (CROP HUSBANDARY),

GOVT. OF MIZORAM

By Directorate of Agriculture (CH), Govt. of Mizoram

15- 35

4. PROGRAMS OF HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT, GOVT. OF MIZORAM

By Directorate of Horticulture, Govt. of Mizoram

36- 39

5. SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

By Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation, Govt. of Mizoram

40-43

6. STATUS ON FOREST IN MIZORAM, MANAGEMENT PRACTISES AND PLAN

SCHEMES OF ENVIRONMENT & FOREST DEPARTMENT, GOVT. OF

MIZORAM

By Department of Environment and Forest, Govt. of Mizoram

44-51

7. DEVELOPMENT OF MINOR IRRIGATION IN MIZORAM

By Department of Minor Irrigation, Govt. of Mizoram

52-57

8. INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (IWMP) AND ITS

IMPLEMENTATION IN MIZORAM

By State Level Nodal Agency (IWMP), Directorate of Rural Development

Department, Govt. of Mizoram

58-61

9. A NOTE ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION By Directorate of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Govt. of Mizoram

62

10. GEOSPATIAL APPROACH ON INTEGRATED LAND & WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT A CASE STUDY OF NORTH VANLAIPHAI VILLAGE COUNCIL AREA, SERCHHIP DISTRICT By Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC), Aizawl.

63-67

11. RAINWATER HARVESTING AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT OPTIONS IN MIZORAM By Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, Govt. of Mizoram

68-73