Shri Bhupender Yadav delivers India’s Statement during the Ministerial Dialogue on Migration, at CoP16 of UN Convention to Combat Desertification, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Shri Bhupender Yadav delivers India’s Statement during the Ministerial Dialogue on Migration, at CoP16 of UN Convention to Combat Desertification, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

New Technologies, along with Financial Support, need to be shared with Developing countries to strengthen efforts to Combat Land Degradation and reduce the consequent Migration: Shri Bhupender Yadav

Posted On: 03 DEC 2024 7:54PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, delivered India’s statement during the Ministerial Dialogue on Migration, at CoP16 of UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, today.

Discussing the theme – ‘Impacts of Land Degradation and Drought on Forced Migration, Security, and Prosperity’ – the Minister stated, “Migration is an age-old phenomenon triggered by the search for better opportunities. What we are discussing here is forced migration in search of livelihood. Land degradation and drought result in reduced soil productivity resulting in loss of livelihood. The forced migration that results from it creates broken communities, strained social cohesion, gender inequality, malnutrition and alienation which cannot be ignored.”

Shri Yadav quoted Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s address at the UNCCD CoP14 in 2019, that said, “Human empowerment is incomplete without a focus on land degradation. We are increasing the fertility of land through various initiatives and are committed to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.” This vision, the Minister added, continues to guide India’s actions for sustainable land management. Recognizing migration’s disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, India has been making efforts to check migration, by engaging youth in livelihood programmes. 

Talking further, the Minister informed that India’s experience highlights the critical role of nature-based solutions, regional collaboration, and prioritising vulnerable communities in addressing forced migration and ensuring security. He said, “One of the key approaches to address land degradation and drought is the improvement of water conservation practices such as river rejuvenation and creation of water retention structures. In India a special initiative i.e Amrit Sarovars, has been taken to develop and rejuvenate water bodies in each district.”

Delving deeper into India’s experience, the Minister informed that microfinance facilities are being provided to individual farmers through regional rural banks and other financial institutions, to support the agriculture activities, in their traditional farm holdings. Similarly, Soil Health Cards, are provided to farmers to understand changes in soil health affected by land management, and take corrective measures. These interventions are expected to discourage migration, Shri Yadav stated.

The Minister noted that promotion of new technologies for addressing land degradation such as use of space technology, Geographic Information System, and Drones for Land Monitoring and Precision Agriculture, Artificial Intelligence for Soil and Water Management, Soil Bioengineering with Microbial Soil Inoculants etc; can further strengthen efforts to combat land degradation and reduce the consequent migration. These technologies along with financial support need to be shared with Developing countries, especially those with acute land degradation issues. “India believes”, the Minister stated, “that with collective and focused efforts, we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, related to Life on Land and Peace and Justice, which will build a future where prosperity thrives on the foundation of sustainability.” 

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