Abstract for: Public policy responses to agricultural soil degradation in India: A Systems Thinking Analysis

Unabated degradation of agricultural soils is detrimental to sustainability of agriculture and a threat to long term food and nutrition security. Adequate policy responses are needed to facilitate transition towards sustainable management of soils. The work looks at how policy responses in India have been engaging with the challenge of agricultural soil degradation and contributing to sustainability transition. The work applies systems thinking to both the problem of agricultural soil degradation in India and the policy responses to address it. In addition to using systems thinking as a backward causal analysis tool for understanding the problem and policy interventions around it, the work also dwells on systems thinking for developing/ suggesting policy responses and solutions that supplement the existing policy efforts for sustainable management of agricultural soils. Most of the policy responses analysed were found to be low leverage points for changing the multi causal system of agricultural soil degradation, highlighting the atomistic policy approach towards addressing a system problem. The policy focus was also found to be skewed towards soil fertility management (fertilizer use) as averse to holistic soil health management, especially for farming areas following modern industrial agriculture practices. The policy gaps highlighted in the work provide an opportunity to improve policy design and shaping future agricultural policies, such that policy responses are more effective in addressing the system problem of agricultural soil degradation. Additionally, the analytical frame can be used for anticipating impacts and trade-offs from different policy decisions, on the soil management system, with implications for long term sustainability of agriculture.