Land degradation poses a significant threat to India’s agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. According to recent data from the UNCCD, from 2015 to 2019, 30.51 million hectares of India’s total reported land suffered from degradation. This represents a concerning increase, with 9.45% of the country’s landmass experiencing degradation by 2019, compared to 4.42% in 2015. As we navigate the challenges of land degradation, it becomes imperative to assess the impact of various sectors, including animal feed production, on this critical issue.

Animal feed production plays a significant role in agricultural practices and land use patterns, directly impacting land degradation. Unsustainable feed production practices can exacerbate soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and overall land degradation. Common practices such as monoculture crop cultivation for feed production, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and improper land management contribute to the degradation of arable land.

Transitioning to sustainable animal feed practices is essential for mitigating the impact of feed production on land degradation. Sustainable practices prioritize soil health, biodiversity conservation, and efficient resource utilization. Implementing agroecological approaches such as diversified cropping systems, organic farming methods, and agroforestry can enhance soil fertility, reduce erosion, and promote biodiversity, thereby contributing to land restoration efforts.

Animal feed production using hydroponic practices adopted by Shunya are the kind of sustainable animal feed practices which can help mitigate land degradation.