Land degradation, drought cost India 2.54% of GDP: Study
Desertification, land degradation and drought had cost India about 2.54% of Gross Domestic Product in 2014-15, according to a study commissioned by the Environment Ministry. Pointing out that drylands globally lose 23 hectares each minute to desertification and drought, Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said this converts into a 20 million-tonne loss in potential foodgrain production in a year.