This document discusses desertification, which is the process of fertile land turning into desert. Approximately one-third of India's land is dry or arid and increasing annually, with 90% of land in Kutch and Saurashtra affected by desertification. Desertification is caused by factors like semi-arid land influencing human habitation and animal grazing, which reduces land fertility; salty water sweeping onto fertile coastal land; continuous farming without fertilizer or manure use; and soil erosion by wind and streams. Methods to minimize desertification discussed include water conservation through check dams, irrigation, collecting rainwater, and dry land farming of cactus species that require little water.