Farmers told to adopt bench terracing in the Nilgiris

To prevent erosion of top soil from agricultural lands

Wrong farming practice is the main reason for soil erosion in the Nilgiris.

The recent spell of heavy rain in the Nilgiris has led to erosion of top soil from many agricultural lands. Concerns over the prospects of top soil loss affecting agricultural yield in the coming years has prompted the district administration to come out with a directive - urging farmers in the district to take up ‘bench terracing’.

Bench terracing is a type of slope manipulation designed to minimise soil and water loss along slopes that are very steep and where land is being used for agriculture.

Landslips

During an inspection of areas such as Muthorai Palada in Udhagamandalam town, where large areas of land are being used for farming and where fields sustained the most amount of damage during the recent floods, officials noticed heavy loss of top soil in these regions. These areas were also more prone to landslips, officials learned.

The district administration believes that bench terracing would benefit farmers in the long run and have urged farmers to approach the agricultural engineering department to learn about the method.

Farmers’ associations too have welcomed the new directive. President of Malai Maavatta Siru Vivasayigal Nala Sangam Thumboor Bhojan said that farmers across the Nilgiris had adopted terrace farming practices till up to a few decades ago.

“However, over the last few decades, farmers started focusing on maximising use of their land, and stopped implementing such designs, with negative consequences, such as landslips and loss of top soil,” he said.

Mr. Bhojan also said that farmers would hold discussions with the horticulture and Special Area Development Programme (SADP) officials in the coming days to ask for financial support for farmers who adopt bench terracing. Punitive action against farmers who fail to adopt the new directive have also been announced. The district administration has warned that farmers who get subsidies from the horticulture department would stand to lose them if they do not switch to bench terracing.