हिंदी
World Soil Health Day celebrated in Kargil
Kargil, December 5
Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kargil-1 (KVK-I) in collaboration with Department of Agriculture, Kargil celebrated World Soil Health Day at KVK Kargil Campus Khurbathang Kargil here today.
Executive Councillor for Agriculture Muhammad Ali Chandan was the chief guest on the occasion while Assistant Commissioner Development Kargil Ghulam Mohammad was the guest honour.
Chief Horticulture Officer Kargil Ali Raza, Chief Agriculture Officer Kargil Kacho Muhammad Ali Khan, scientists of KVK-I, officers and officials of Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, extension workers form line departments and large number of farmers both male and male participated in the programme.
The aim of the day was to emphasize the importance of soil health management and advocate for sustainable management of soil hidden resources.
The theme of World Soil Day, 2020 framed by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ‘Keep Soil Alive, Protect Soil Biodiversity’ aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy ecosystem and human well being.
Speaking on the occasion, EC Chandan while haling the efforts of KVK Kargil and Agriculture Department Kargil for having organized the awareness session urged upon farmers to strive hard to ensure better soil health by adopting efficient application of correct types and amounts of manure and fertilizers for the supply of nutrients so as to make their agricultural practices productive and profitable. He exhorted upon the farmers to test their soil regularly and use manure and fertilizers as per the recommendations of the experts so as to achieve better production.
EC Chandan also directed the officers of KVK and line departments to conduct awareness programmes for the farming community regarding soil health at regular intervals with thrust on advance publicity, so as to apprise them about the scientific techniques in the balanced use of fertilizers and organic manures. He also highlighted the need to carry out serious debates and discussions for giving a boost to Agriculture as a job-oriented sector in the district.
The EC also stressed on farmers to strive hard to make agriculture a viable source of livelihood and assured all out support from the LAHDC Kargil to encourage farmers in this regard.
Principal Scientist and Head KVK-I Kargil Dr Ghulam Mehdi gave a brief introduction of World Soil Day and discussed elaborately various measures for improving soil fertility through the efficient utilization of waste materials and promotion of bio-fertilizers. He also thanked the Director, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, ICAR and his team for assuring isolation of various beneficial microbes from Kargil soil that has been submitted to them by KVK Kargil -1.
ACD Kargil Ghulam stressed to adopt drip irrigation system in drought prone areas.
The session was followed by brief lectures by the Chief Agriculture Officer, Kargil, and the Chief Horticulture Officer, Kargil on importance of soil day.
The officers of line departments and scientists of SKUAST speakers highlighted the importance of soil health maintenance for profitable and sustainable agricultural yield and further enlightened the farmers about the importance of soil health and soil testing facilities as well as various measures like the use of organic manures in highest proportions, proper aeration, ploughing, tillage, rotational cropping and adoption of mulching in water-deficient areas.
The speakers on the occasion also highlighted the revival of the use of water reservoir tanks for filtration and desilting of water for efficient irrigation, well rotten and decomposed organic manure as well as using procurement of gypsum to reduce the alkalinity of soil as some measures to ensure better soil health for satisfactory crop production and growth.
At the end of the programme, Dr Nasreen Fatima SMS, KVK Kargil expressed gratitude to all the participants and urged the EC Agriculture for strengthening of KVK laboratory so that different bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers can be isolated as and when required from the local soil.
