Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 5: A webinar was on Saturday organized on World Soil Day in Srinagar to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.
The webinar was jointly organised by Institution of Engineers India (IEI) J&K State Centre, Srinagar and Directorate of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Kashmir, Chairman IEI Er Aamir Ali said this evening.
He said the theme this year was: “Keep Soil Alive, Protect Soil Biodiversity” with the aim to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. This day aims to create awareness that preservation of soil biodiversity and sustainable soil management is critical for sustaining life on this Planet.
The webinar was inaugurated by Manzoor Ahmed Qadri, Director Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Kashmir who had joined as Director just a few hours ago.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that Agriculture Department has been making all efforts to ensure that benefits of various schemes percolate to the stakeholders particularly the farmers. He said that he will ensure that proper coordination mechanism with allied departments is put in place, so that fertile top-soil can be protected.
He stressed on the need to reduce the usage of Chemical fertilizers. He suggested that the concept of backyard kitchen garden and vermicomposting needs to be encouraged and incentivized. He called upon the farmers to adopt sustainable techniques including usage of bio-fertilizers, and farm manure and also to adopt crop-rotation techniques to improve the quality of the soil.
He spoke about Integrated Nutrient Management and said that soil testing facility has been made available in all Districts as well as Mobile Labs. He informed that numerous programmes were organised on World Soil Day across Kashmir Division today.
Er Ali said that our soil is under tremendous strain due to deforestation, urbanization, erosion, loss of soil biodiversity, improper agriculture practices, salinization, nutrient depletion, chemical pollution and necessary measures need to be taken immediately.
Miss Bilquees Dar and Mohammed Suhail Wani Consultants Disaster Management stressed on the role of soil health in disaster mitigation. They said that systematic planning of the land can help land managers to increase the soil-ability.
Choudhary Mohammed Iqbal, Joint Director Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Kashmir informed that their department is making efforts in streamlining the activities of the farmers towards the use of organic farming.