Awareness programs on Soil Health should be organised among farmers: Dir Agriculture

Agriculture Department Kashmir celebrates World Soil Day 2023

MASROOR AHMAD

SRINAGAR: Agriculture Department Kashmir on Thursday celebrated World Soil Health Day 2023 across the Kashmir division. The main function was held at Agriculture Complex Lalmandi Srinagar which was inaugurated by Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal.
While addressing the main function Director Agriculture said that organising soil day provides us with an opportunity to pay attention and address the issues and challenged confronting this finite resource (Soil).
Maintaining the standard of soil and ensuring that the quality of soil is healthy is every one’s responsibility. Industrialization and poor land management system have degraded the quality of soil in many places ,further leading to soil erosion ,drop in fertility and loss of organic matter,he said
Director Agriculture Highlighted the importance of soil for human survival. He said the world Soil Health Day 2023 is celebrated every year to ensure that people are informed about the significance of maintaining the quality of soil and how important it is in our life and food system.
Director Agriculture said, that farmers should be made sensitive towards the improper soil management practices. He said the health of the soil has direct impact on our own health therefore all possible efforts should be put in place, so that this most important natural resource could be preserved for generation to come.
Director urged the concerned Chief Agriculture Officers to conduct awareness programme regarding Soil Heath Management. He directed the concerned officers to regularly monitor the progress on the ”Soil Health Card Scheme” and ensure that farmers are managing their cultural practices as per the recommendation of Soil Health card. He said the best possible way to celebrate this day is to generate awareness about the soil Health among the farmers at grass root level for sustainability of agriculture production.
Pertinently world soil Day is celebrated annually on December 05 and every year this day is celebrated as a crucial reminder of the importance of soil health and the need for concerted efforts to protect and manage this vital resources sustainably . It highlights the often overlooked role of soil in supporting life on Earth and emphasizes our responsibility for future generations to preserve this essential asset.
Joint Director Agriculture Extension G.M Dhobi, Joint Director Agriculture Inputs Tabassum Naz, Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar Manohorlal Sharma, District Agriculture Officer Srinagar Gulzar Ahmad Shah, Nodal Officer Zero Budget Natural Farming Sheikh Imran, Assistant Bio-Chemist Srinagar, Asifa Nabi also expressed their views on the occasion. A Large gathering of Farmers were also present in the function.
Beside Holding functions at District level World Soil Day 2023 was celebrated at Sub-Division and zonal levels across the Kashmir Division.