Desertification an eye-opener
This refers to the cover story “A quarter under desertification”
(1-15 September 2019). Desertification never occurred to me as a catastrophe until it was highlighted as such by Down To Earth and at the recently concluded United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Greater Noida. I viewed deserts as existing naturally in Rajasthan.The statistics showing 41 pert cent of Himachal Pradesh as desert alarmed me.Then I recollected my service days in Kaza in Himachal Pradesh in the 1980s, when the state forest department was undertaking a desert development programme.They used to plant willow saplings every year perfunctorily but cared least to protect them.The saplings were eaten up by the yaks during winters, leaving the patches denuded again.
In addition to the natural factors, such as wind, drought and excessive rains, I think that humans, to a great extent, are also responsible for desertification. Over population, urbanisation, developmental pressure on forests are human-made catalysts that cause desertification. It is good that now there is a global programme that aims at reclaiming the desertified and degraded lands. L R SHARMA
SUNDERNAGAR
A number of studies have cautioned the government that areas are turning into deserts due to degradation of forests. Climate change is only exacerbating the process. A shrinking cultivatable land has already started threatening our food security. Successive governments have offered lip service but not taken concrete measures to increase the green cover and to safeguard forests from the mafia. It’s time drastic steps are taken on a war footing to increase forest cover.
K R SRINIVASAN
SECUNDERABAD
Desertification is a concern for most countries now. Humans have played a major role in this process by harmful activities.There is a need for concerted government policies both at the state level as well as at the Centre.The government should not only allocate exclusive funds to fight desertification, it should also set up an expert committee to suggest remedial measures. People living near deserts should be part of the fight.
D B N MURTHY
BENGALURU
Fortification will only help cartels
This is with reference to “Fortunate five” (16-30 September 2019). Fortification of grains with micronutrients, like vitamin B12, iron and folic acid, only benefits cartels and the corrupt. It is also bad for health and the environment.
VIJAY SARDANA
VIA EMAIL