Securing soils through people-centric watershed management for sustainable agricultural development

The sustainability of agricultural production systems is the plausible outcome of carefully managed natural resources to produce more per-unit input, which will also help to achieve the goals of ‘no poverty’ and ‘zero hunger’. Soils from croplands and uncultivated wastelands are degraded due to erosion and nutrient depletion, requiring urgent attention to maintain the sustainability of the production system. By adopting a holistic, integrated watershed management approach, soil security measures backed by scientific knowledge have demonstrated a positive impact on agricultural productivity and profitability, with reduced soil loss and increased water availability.