Identification of Cultivable Wastelands in Meghalaya, India using Geospatial Technology for Agricultural Reclamation

Abstract

Cultivable wastelands suitable for cultivation are a significant land resource that can be utilised to improve agricultural productivity and sustainable land management. The present study aimed to estimate the cultivable wastelands of Meghalaya using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques and to assess the possibilities for reclaiming wastelands for agriculture. Multispectral satellite data from the LISS-IV sensor for the period 2025-2026 were processed to create a False Colour Composite (FCC), and Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) classification was performed using visual image interpretation to distinguish the major cultivable wasteland categories: Dense Scrub Land, Sparse Scrub Land, Grasslands/Grazing Lands, and Shifting Cultivation Area. About 340,673.36 ha, representing almost 15.2% of the total geographical area of Meghalaya, were identified as cultivable wastelands. Among the identified categories, Sparse Scrub Land occupied the largest area (206,595.18 ha), followed by Dense Scrub Land (99,488.89 ha), Shifting Cultivation Area (34,331.34 ha), and Grasslands/Grazing Lands (257.94 ha). The distribution of these wastelands suggests considerable potential for reclamation through appropriate land restoration and sustainable management practices. The spatial database and thematic maps generated provide baseline information for land-use planning, resource management, and policy formulation aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and the sustainable utilisation of wastelands in Meghalaya.