All about the Soil & Water Conservation Department, Government of Meghalaya.
The Soil & Water Conservation Department, Meghalaya originated as the Jhum Control Wing under the Forest Department in the erstwhile composite State of Assam. It was subsequently created as an independent Department during 1959-60.
As a major Department of the State, the Department has been striving towards the conservation of the three most vital natural resources - soil, water and vegetation by implementing various conservation measures under various schemes and projects funded by different agencies.
Accordingly, the Department has taken up the following as its main functions:
Conservation of natural resources like soil, water and vegetation for sustained development and continuing economic progress and improved way of life of the people
To combat land degradation through erosion, faulty agricultural practices like shifting cultivation or Jhumming to preserve, maintain and improve balance in ecology and environment
Optimum utilization and conservation of soil, water and vegetation in the catchment areas by making judicious use of land according to its capabilities.
To ensure that the service-deliveries promote and meet the afore-cited aims and objectives, a mechanism to take forward the system is required. They are underlined as follows:
Formulation of Land Use and Action Plan on a participatory mode; adoption of appropriate soil and water conservation techniques and measures preferably on a Watershed basis, which is increasingly recognized as an ideal approach for Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme.
Strengthening the information, Education, Communication Systems, and Capacity Building & Demonstration.
Application of science and technology and research & development inputs.
Awareness campaign, mobilization and organization of the community, empowerment, building their capacity, up gradation of local skills.
Promotion and encouragement of Self-Help Institutions and other promoting institutions. Designing mechanism to monitor and evaluate socio-techno-economic impact and result.
With this in perspective, the Department has taken up the challenge of mitigating the depletion of the natural resources through various programmes with the objective of conserving these vital resources for sustainable food production and simultaneously to ensure food security through sustainable high levels of production by adopting improved resource conservation technologies.
The following aims guide the direction and purpose of the programme towards long-term sustainability and resilience:
Citizens' Charter
Soil and water are fundamental natural resources that form the foundation of agricultural production systems and sustainable natural resource management. Agriculture, being the backbone of the nation’s rural economy, plays a vital role in India’s overall economic development. This is particularly true in Meghalaya, where the economy is predominantly agrarian and rural in nature, with agriculture serving as a major source of livelihood.
More than 70 per cent of the State’s population depends on agriculture for employment and income generation, with agricultural development activities contributing significantly to rural livelihoods. Despite its central importance, the sector continues to face numerous challenges arising from unsustainable agricultural practices, anthropogenic pressures, and adverse natural factors.
To address these challenges, the holistic management and conservation of soil and water resources are essential for ensuring agricultural sustainability as well as for protecting and preserving the natural ecosystem. The development and adoption of effective conservation strategies, improved technologies, judicious use of natural resources, and efficient management practices are therefore imperative to prevent soil and water degradation.
In this context, the Soil & Water Conservation Department plays a crucial role by implementing various soil and water conservation measures aimed at controlling all forms of erosion and minimizing soil and water losses caused by both natural and human-induced factors. Nearly half of the State’s geographical area is affected by different forms of soil erosion and land degradation, resulting in significant losses to agricultural productivity and contributing to rural poverty.
Public awareness and community participation are vital in addressing these issues. Citizens must be sensitized to the importance of natural resources, as human survival and economic well-being depend on them, and all stakeholders must share responsibility for their conservation and sustainable use.
Nature takes between 600 and 1,000 years to form just one inch of fertile topsoil; however, without adequate conservation and sustainable land management practices, this invaluable resource can be lost within hours during two or three intense rainfall events. As a result, water erosion remains the most destructive force threatening productive land in the State.
Recent assessments and projections for 2025 indicate that land degradation now affects approximately 38–40 per cent of Meghalaya’s total geographical area, highlighting the urgent need for immediate, coordinated, and intensified conservation interventions.
With this in perspective, the Department has taken up the challenge of mitigating the depletion of the natural resources through various programmes with the objective of conserving these vital resources for sustainable food production and simultaneously to ensure food security through sustainable high levels of production by adopting improved resource conservation technologies.
