Shillong, Satellite imagery and geographic information system technology have helped identify over 3.4 lakh hectares of cultivable wasteland in Meghalaya, accounting for 15.2 per cent of the state’s geographical area, according to a study.
The research was conducted by Ronak Meena, Chandan Goswami, C P Suresh and Akmaul Hoque, associated with the Department of Horticulture at North-Eastern Hill University, Tura, and the North Eastern Space Applications Centre , Umiam. The study cautioned that the classification does not mean all the mapped land is immediately suitable for cultivation, as factors such as soil properties, slope, water availability, accessibility and economic feasibility were not assessed. The study however, did not assess the suitability of the identified land for specific crops or undertake actual reclamation.
The study, published in the Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International earlier this month, estimated that 3,40,673.36 hectares of land could be assessed for agricultural reclamation and sustainable land-use planning. Sparse scrubland accounted for the largest share of the identified area at 2,06,595.18 hectares, or 60.64 per cent, followed by dense scrubland at 99,488.89 hectares , the study found.
