5th December
December 5 is celebrated annually as World Soil Day to highlight the importance of healthy soil and promote sustainable management of soil resources. The event aims to raise awareness of the importance of soil quality for human well-being, food security and ecosystems
The ICAR Institutes pan India also celebrated the World Soil Day - 2022 on the Theme - ‘Soils: Where food begins’.
ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa
Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways graced the occasion as Chief Guest. He spoke about the importance of the soil, referred it as our mother, and explained how soil health and human health are intricately related. He has stressed on increasing agricultural production through balanced soil nutrition, agro-climatic zone wise crop planning and intercropping. He urged the farmers to take up natural farming techniques for better and sustainable soil health. He also briefed about various government schemes in relation to the well-being of the farmers.
Dr Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), the Guest of Honour joined the programme in virtual mode. In his address, he emphasized on soil health card scheme and neem coated urea to increase fertilizer use efficiency. He urged to work in unison to save the soil.
Dr Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR, New Delhi and Guest of Honour briefed about the importance of soil in food production. He highlighted the issues related to land degradation and soil health restoration. He also stressed on bringing school students and stakeholders who are not directly related to research under soil day programme to make them aware about soil health.
Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, in his welcome address emphasized on the importance of soil and stressed upon maintaining good soil health to get healthy food for all.
More than 100 farmers joined physically and about 6000 scientists, technical staff of ICAR joined the program virtually across the nation. On this occasion, soil health cards were also distributed to the 100 farmers.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal
A March Past was organized by the institute Scientists, Technical and other staff to spread awareness among the public on the importance of soils in human life and protection of this precious resource.
The Chief Guest, Shri Vishnu Khatri, MLA, Berasia, Madhya Pradesh emphasized the importance of soil and its role in providing food to animal and humans and also highlighted the importance of natural farming and five natural elements (soil, water, air, atmosphere and sunlight). He also felicitated progressive farmers
Dr A.B. Singh, Director, in his welcome address, stressed upon the importance of ‘healthy soil for a healthy life’. He highlighted the institute’s activities and importance of balanced nutrition in enhancing soil organic carbon for better soil health.
Sh Ravinder Patil, DGM SBI and Dr. Suresh Motwani, Regional Head, Solidaridad also attended the program.
This was followed by a panel discussion on “Regenerative agriculture for enhancing soil health” at the Institute.
A workshop-cum-training programme was organized on December 01 on the topic “Composting for Soil and Human Health”. Around 100 farmers attended this workshop cum training programme.
On the Agricultural Education Day quiz competition on soil awareness was also organized.
Training and Soil Health Awareness Day were organized on December 01 and 02 where more than 200 farmers under the scheme SCSP and Farmers FIRSTwere given training on soil health maintenance practices. The Soil Health Awareness Week would continue till December 07, 2022.
ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur
ICAR-DCR celebrated World Soil Day in the farmer’s field at Bettampady village, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka.
Dr. D. Balasubramanian, Director (In-charge) briefed about the soil health card programme of Govt. of India and emphasized on the importance of judicious application of nutrients including micronutrients, based on soil test report. He highlighted the importance of soil in the production of quality food for human beings.
Later soil health cards were distributed to the farmers. The programme was attended by 31 farmers.
National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning
The ICAR-NBSS&LUP, celebrated the world soil day at its regional centre, Udaipur. In this event, more than 200 children and teaching staff from various schools visited the centre to know about the soils of India in general and Rajasthan in particular. Scientists of the Bureau explained about sustainable use of soils. Students visited different laboratories and got a practical exposure to soil analysis like soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon and soil texture.
ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana
AICRP on PEASEM, ICAR-Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana celebrated World Soil Day at village Dhak Majra along with its Coordinating Centre in Dept. of Soil &Water Engineering, PAU Ludhiana.
A series of lectures were delivered by experts on maintaining health and enhancing productivity of soil.
Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director, ICAR CIPHET highlighted about the use of proper nutrition and fertilizers to save soil for a healthy future and on post-harvest management and value addition of agricultural commodities.
Dr Rakesh Sharda, PI, AICRP on PEASEM, PAU briefed about shortage of nutrients in soil and water and how to fulfil the required nutrients of soil for crop production. He also highlighted on saving of water through use of drip irrigation.
About 80 participants which includes farmers, staffs from ICAR-CIPHET, Scientist from PAU and KVK Noor Mahal attended the programme.
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ri-Bhoi.
A one-day Awareness on Natural Farming and Soil Health was organized by ICAR- KVK, Ri-Bhoi to create awareness and enhance knowledge among farmers on soil health, benefits of soil health cards, management of soil acidity and degradation for sustainability of soil which will lead the enhancement of soil fertility and crop productivity.
Dr. A.K.Singha, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Umiam talked about the importance of Soil health Day and its Campaign with theme “ Soils: Where Food Begins”. He briefed about the importance of maintaining a healthy soil and the different ways by creating awareness for the well being of the whole ecosystem.
Dr. Mokidul Islam, Principal Scientist & Head, KVK, Ri- briefed about the value of healthy soil and stressed on a sustainable management through different ways including natural nutrient sources to enhance soil fertility and productivity.
The programme was attended by 50 farmers of Ri-Bhoi district
ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi
The Chief Guest, Dr. Adarsh Singh, IAS, Divisional Commissioner, Jhansi. urged farmers to conserve the soil and use of balance fertilizers and micro irrigation for efficient use of nutrient and water.
Dr. Amaresh Chandra, Director, ICAR-IGFRI on his address highlighted the importance of soil health for benefits of coming generations and advised farmers about crop residue management and rain water harvesting.
In total 56 Soil Health Cards were distributed to the farmers. 45 farmers from 3 villages of Jhansi district and 35 college going students have participated.
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore
On the occasion ICAR-CIFRI distributed Water and Soil Health Cards with recommendation of the measures to be taken to maintain the water quality and soil health to the managers eight wetlands in West Bengal viz., Moyna (Purba medinipur district), Khalsi & Bhomra, (Nadia District), Akaipur, Duma, Chamta, Sindrani & Beledanga (North 24 Parganas district).
The Chief Guest of the programme, Dr. R. K. Basak, Retd. Professor, BCKV stressed upon the immediate need of applying organic matter in the form of FYM, compost, vermi-compost, poultry manure and other possible source to improve the soil health which has detoriated over the years in most parts of the county due to continuous use of inorganic fertilizers. He also spoke about the management of pond soils and emphasised the need of soil and water testing before adopting any remedial measure.
The Guest-of-Honour, Dr. J. C. Tarafdar, former National Fellow and Principal Scientist, ICAR-CAZRI delivered lecture on ‘Nanofertilizer: Key Player for Global Food Production’.
Earlier, Dr. B.K Das, Director, emphasized on the need of balanced use of manures, fertilizers, other chemicals and maintenance of soil health towards achieving sustainable production.
ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture
ICAR-CRIDA celebrated World Soil Day at at Medikonda Village, Pudur Mandal, Vikarabad District under Farmer FIRST project.
During the programme experts briefed about the purpose of world soil day celebration, role of major and minor nutrients for crop growth, importance of soil health management and soil test based nutrient application for enhancing crop yield and reducing the cost of cultivation.
Later, soil health cards were distributed and explained the interpretation of soil data to the farmers.
Around 100 farmers participated in the programme.
Shri Anantha Reddy, Sarpanch and Sri. Sai Reddy, Ward Member participated in the programme.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad
Soil testing was demonstrated using the indigenous machine – KRSHIRASTAA which is an IOT-based device that performs 12 soil test parameters in 30 minutes. Its API-based integration platform sends the soil health card (emoji-based interpretation system) to the beneficiary farmers’ android-based mobile along with nutrient/fertilizer commendation based on the soil tests.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between ICAR-IIRR and Krishitantra for the Joint initiative of Krishiratsaa, Joint Patent filing and other revenue sharing over device sales.
More than 50 soil health cards were distributed to the beneficiary farmers by the Dr. R M Sundaram, Director, ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad.
(Source: Respective Institutes)
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