Soil conservation and management in developing countries [antikvár]

I. HimODUCTION EXPERT COHSULTATION ON SOIL CONSERVATION ABB MAMAGEMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES More than two-thirds of the world's population today are living in the. developing world where agricultural production is not keeping pace with population increase. Increased food production could be achieved by expansion of cultivable areas, intensifying production by introducing high yielding varieties and introduction of new technology in agricultural production. The expansion of cultivable areas however, offers the least solution to the problem as most of the coiintries especially in Asia have little or no room for expansion. A major problem facing the areas already under cultivation,thus aggravating the situation, is the seriousness of soil degradation and loss of soil fertility due to indiscriminate misuse of agricultural lands, forests and grazing lands. Soil conservation in the past was commonly equated with the mere prevention of erosion or with the restoration of areas in which accelerated erosion has already taken place. The modern thinking however, assigns to soil conservation a more comprehensive and more positive role, in that sustained improvement complemented by the preservation of available resources should form the central concept. Soil conservation is not merely a technical problem. Several practices in agriculture today have resulted in misuse and degradation of previously fertile land. Bad cropping patterns, unsuitable cultivation techniques, misuse of tractor power, improper choice of implements and machines, the abuse of natural pastures and forests, the extension of cultivation to marginal and sub-marginal lands, and faiilty irrigation and drainage syBtems are mostly responsible for the present situation. In the attempt to solve some of these problems, many mistakes have been made resulting in failures and worsening of the situation in many developing countries. The basic concept of a multi-disciplinary approach to the solutioii of the problems has unfortunately been overlooked in most cases. Detailed knowledge of the nature and distribution of land in an area are the basic pre-requisites of any conservation programme. In this regard, land inventories must be interpreted in practical terms, significant to all other aspects of the environment and to the basic requirements of all land-users and planners. Soil conservation must not be limited solely to agricultural and grazing lands. Conservation of the forests is of equal importance as any misuse of such land will result in erosion, sedimentation and soil degradation of the whole watershed. Conservation education and extension are areas where particular attention must be directed in the developing countries. Many countries transfer without due consideration to socio-economic factors, conservation education methods from other environments with the pious,hope of solving their own problems.