JODHPUR, Dec. 17 -- A scientific assessment by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has revealed that more than 195,000 hectares of land in the state are affected by soil salinity, Union minister of state for agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary told Parliament. Responding to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Choudhary said the study was conducted by the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, an institute affiliated to ICAR. The assessment revealed that approximately 195,571 hectares of land in the state are affected due to soil salinity. Choudhary added: "The key findings indicate that the occurrence of Sem is primarily due to impeded drainage, excessive irrigation, and the consequent rise in the groundwater table, which leads to the upward movement and accumulation of salts on the soil surface." He also said: "The government is aware of the problem of Sem in the Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts of Rajasthan. This has resulted in the swamping and degradation of productive agricultural land, thereby impacting the livelihoods of farmers in these districts." The assessment by ICAR indicated that nearly 5,397 hectares in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts are affected by Sem. The minister said that to address this problem, ICAR has suggested short-term and long-term measures. The short-term measures include assessing soil conditions to locate waterlogged and salt-affected areas, improving drainage to remove excess water, managing irrigation efficiently to reduce salinity buildup, using mixed water sources to limit crop stress, and promoting salt-tolerant crop varieties to sustain agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods. Similarly, the long-term suggested technologies include installing subsurface drainage systems for long-term reclamation, using bio-drainage through deep-rooted and high-transpiration tree species to naturally lower groundwater levels, and adopting agroforestry models with salt-tolerant tree species to rehabilitate soils, enhance ecosystem services, and provide diversified income. Choudhary said that these measures are being promoted through training programmes, field demonstrations, and awareness campaigns. He also stated that the Soil Health and Fertility Scheme is being implemented to improve soil productivity and fertility, including in areas affected by salinity....