In India, there are about 4 M ha of ravine lands, which is 1.22 per cent of the total geographical area (328 M ha), spread over 12 states. In Uttar Pradesh, the ravine lands occupy an area of about 1.23 M ha of which 0.18 M ha exists in Agra district on the bank of river Yamuna and its tributaries.
The problem of ravines has become a serious threat because the ravines are dynamic and on a conservative estimate it takes annual toll of above 8000 ha of valuable lands of the country. The ever increasing demand of food, fuel and fodder has attracted the attention of the Government of India towards the useful utilization of these otherwise waste lands.
Consequently, the Government of India established a network of Soil Conservation Research Demonstration and Training Centre in the country. The soil conservation Research Demonstration and Training Centre, Agra, though established in 1955 as a sub-centre, became an independent center in 1957 with the main objective of developing scientific and technical know how to deal with the problems of ravine lands on the banks of Yamuna river. In order to give a coordinated approach to the problem of soil and water conservation research, in April, 1974 the ICAR upgraded the Dehra Dun Centre to the status of a Research Institute, and redesignated it as the CENTRAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE. Consequently, Agra Centre came under the administrative umbrella of the Institute with the present name "Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute", Research Centre Agra.
The Centre has a state of art Office cum Laboratory complex housing a Training hostel, Library, Exhibition hall, Seminar room, ARIS cell, Administrative office and Guest house.
To cater to the needs of research and training, the centre is well equipped with the modern facilities for analyzing soil and water. The centre has modern instruments and equipments for analysis of soil, plant and water and facilities for monitoring soil-plant-atmospheric continuum.
Modern and sophisticated instruments like Atomic absorption spectrophotometer, Pressure plate apparatus, Neutron moisture meter, Double beam spectrophotometer, Flame photometer, Yoder apparatus, Nitrogen assembly and other facilities for runoff monitoring, leveling and surveying instruments.
The Centre has provided computer facilities with internet connectivity to most of the scientific and administrative staff. All the computers are connected through LAN and have internet facilities through V sat.
There are adequate number of scanners, laser printers (colour and black & white), deskjet printers and Xeroxing facilities. The centre is also equipped with Geographical Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) for research purpose and imparting and training.
The centre has an excellent library with having sitting arrangement for around 30 persons.
The library is updated with new journals, books and periodicals every year and has collection of 2160 books. Currently 15 journals related to soil and water conservation are being subscribed by the library.
The centre has training halls equipped with all modern audio-visual aids like LCD, desk microphones, TV, DVD player, computer etc. A trainee’s hostel with 40 fully furnished rooms and two air-conditioned guest room for VIPs are also available.
Eminent scientists having expertise in the field of Soil Science & Agronomy, Engineering, Forestry, Economics, Extension, and Horticulture, are available at the centre for conducting research and training on different aspects of natural resource management. Senior faculty members are also invited from sister organizations to give lectures to the trainees.
The seminar room is well furnished with a sitting capacity of 50 persons. It is fitted with conferencing facility consisting of audio-system with detachable cable mounted microphones, audio visual projection system (LCD) with multi -media projector, computer, television, DVD player, video and digital camera.
The Centre has a Research Farm of 81.6 ha attached to this Centre is located at village, Chhalesar, situated on Agra-Kanpur National Highway at a distance of 14 km from Agra city. The Research Farm represents of the typical features of the ravine system on the banks of Yamuna river and is an ideal site for research dealing with stabilization, reclamation and utilization of ravine lands.
The research farm is well equipped with research facilities like runoff plots of different slopes and sizes, terraced land and horticultural blocks for conducting research on conservation aspects, gauged forested watershed and ravine lands for hydrological and forestry research.
Various land use options are available for conducting and demonstrating research on soil and water conservation. The farm also has circulatory set up for simulation studies and permanent plots for ecological succession studies.
The centre has ‘A’ class meteorological observatory fully equipped with all the modern instruments for gathering information on all the meteorological parameters to assist scientific work and cater to the need of other Government/Research organizations.
In India, there are about 4 M ha of ravine lands, which is 1.22 per cent of the total geographical area (328 M ha), spread over 12 states. In Uttar Pradesh, the ravine lands occupy an area of about 1.23 M ha of which 0.18 M ha exists in Agra district on the bank of river Yamuna and its tributaries.
The problem of ravines has become a serious threat because the ravines are dynamic and on a conservative estimate it takes annual toll of above 8000 ha of valuable lands of the country. The ever increasing demand of food, fuel and fodder has attracted the attention of the Government of India towards the useful utilization of these otherwise waste lands. Consequently, the Government of India established a network of Soil Conservation Research Demonstration and Training Centre in the country.
The centre has expertise in providing consultancy on watershed planning and development, monitoring and impact evaluation of watershed, ravine reclamation and watershed hydrology and water resource development and these includes:
The Centre during the period is associated with different Government Ministries, National Organizations, State Universities and Developmental Agencies in conducting various research programmes and in transferring the technologies developed into the farm situation.