ICAR Institutes celebrate World Soil Day - 2021

5th December, 2021

With an aim to apprise the farmers and citizens about the soil’s importance in maintaining the healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, fighting soil biodiversity, etc., the World Soil Day is observed on 5th December every year across the globe.

The Day also aims to encourage the governments, organizations, communities and individuals around the world to commit for proactively improving soil health.

The ICAR Institutes pan India also celebrated the World Soil Day - 2021 on the Theme - “Halt Soil Salinization, Boost Soil Productivity”.

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

The Chief Guest, Shri Sahdev Singh Pundir, MLA, Sahaspur highlighted the ways in which every person at individual level has to act to protect and conserve the soils.

The Guest of Honor, Dr. Inderjeet Gulati, Principal, Doon Business School Groups & Former Dean, RAU, Rajasthan expressed keen interest to be a part of the Institute’s Outreach Programmes along with his students.

Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Dr. M. Madhu, Director, ICAR-IISWC, Dehradun stressed on the inclusive development of soil.

The event registered participation by 80 B.Sc. Agriculture Students from Doon Business School; Doon PG College; 15 Farmers, Scientists and Institute’s Staff Members.

 

ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh

The Chief Guest, Shri Ravindra Kumar, District Magistrate, Jhansi urged the use of balanced fertilizers and insecticides in soil for crop production. He also distributed the Soil Health Cards to the farmers.

Dr. Amaresh Chandra, Director, ICAR-IGFRI, Jhansi emphasized on the importance of Soil Health Cards for maintaining healthy soil for the benefits of the future generations. He also apprised the farmers about the Crop Residue Management and Rain Water Harvesting.

A total of 110 farmers from 8 Villages from Jhansi District participated in the event.

 

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ri-Bhoi

The KVK, Ri-Bhoi in collaboration with the Soil Science Section of ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Umiam celebrated the day with full fervor.

The Chief Guest, Dr. V.K. Mishra, Director, ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam accentuated on the importance of Soil Salinization and Soil Acidity on crop productivity and their management with the application of proper quantity of gypsum and lime in salt-affected and acid soils, respectively.

About 54 farmers & farm women along with 11 Scientists from ICAR, Umiam and KVK Ri- participated in the event.

 

ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa and ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Goa

Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State for Tourism & Port, Shipping and Waterways marked his presence as the Chief Guest during the occasion.

                                     

The Minister applauded the Institute and KVK’s works towards improving the agricultural productivity and income of the farmers of Goa and Coastal Region. He also urged for a blending of the traditional knowledge of the farmers and newer technologies to realize the vision of “Self-reliant Goa”.

Earlier, welcoming the Dignitaries, Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, Goa briefed about the soil health and its status in the State. Highlighting the extent and degree of the land degradation, he also stressed on the need for suitable technologies.

 

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

The Institute organized a March Past to mark the day.

Dr. Ashok K. Patra, Director, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal accentuated on the importance of celebrating the day. He urged to create awareness amongst the Villagers to protect the precious natural resource for the next generations.

Shri Ravinder Patil, DGM, SBI and Sanjay Kumar, AGM, SBI along with the Staff Members participated in the event.

A total of 200 farmers from the nearby Villages participated in the Awareness Programme.

 

ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Kolkata along with NAAS, Kolkata Chapter

The Institute along with NAAS, Kolkata Chapter celebrated the World Soil Day - 2021 on the theme “Halt Soil Salinity, Boost Soil Productivity”.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Tapas Bhattacharya, Former Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Balasaheb Samant Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra delivered a Lecture on “Soil - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.

Dr. A.K. Singh, Former Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR & Vice-Chancellor, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh outlined the genesis of salt problems in Indian soil and efforts for land reclamation.

Dr. Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR-CRIJAF, Kolkata highlighted the causes of soil degradation and promising reclamation technologies & strategies for soil salinity amelioration, viz., alternate land use system, cultivation of salt tolerant crop varieties, phytoremediation and bioremediation, etc.

 

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai

The Institute celebrated the day with the Aqua-Farmers of Udupi and Uttara Kannada Districts, Karnataka with full fervor.

Inaugurating the Farmers’ Meet, Shri K. Ganesh, Joint Director of Fisheries, Udupi District, Karnataka underlined the potential of cage culture in coastal Karnataka. He also highlighted the scope for future collaborations of the Fisheries Department with the ICAR-CIBA in utilizing the resources of Karnataka State for Sustainable Brackishwater Aquaculture Development.

The farmers were sensitized about the importance of conserving the soil health and soil & water quality issues of the Brackishwater Farms in Coastal Karnataka.

 

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Washim, Maharashtra

The KVK celebrated the day in the adopted Village Shelu Khadse of Risod Block.

The Chief Guest, Shri Vitthal Parade, Sarpanch, Village Shelu Khadse urged the farmers to carry out the soil and water analysis of their fields.

 

ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad

The Institute celebrated the day at Rudraram Village, Shabad Mandal, Ranga Reddy District of Telangana.

  

The Institute’s Scientists highlighted the importance of soil health, primary and micro-nutrient management, saline soil management, vermicompost preparation and straw management, etc.

The participants were provided with the guidelines on proper fertilizer input management during the occasion.

 

ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad

The Institute organized programme at Gurudhotla, a Farmers’ FIRST Project adopted Village.

  

Around 175 farmers from the Farmers’ FIRST Project Programme Villages and neighboring Villages participated in the programme.

(Source: Respective ICAR Institutes)