भाकृअनुप-भारतीय मृदा विज्ञान संस्थान

ICAR-INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SOIL SCIENCE

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World Soil Day 2024:

The ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil Science, a recipient of FAO King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award celebrated World Soil Day on 5th December 2024. This soil health awareness programme with a slogan “Caring the Soils: Measure, Monitor and Manage” was organized with great fervour and enthusiasm. The Institute celebrated Agriculture Education Day with a theme “Caring soil for humanity” to educate and create soil health awareness amongst the school children. In this direction, Institute conducted essay and drawing competition on the topic “Healthy soils for healthy life”. On 5th December 2024, a march-past was organized from the Institute to the nearby premises for awareness generation amongst common people.

This occasion was graced by Padam Shri Awardee and World Food Prize Winner Dr. Rattan Lal (Distinguished Professor, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA) as the Chief Guest. On this day, Dr Rattan Lal emphasized on ten pronged strategy to make soil, atmosphere and earth planet healthy. He reiterated the basic things and indicated his concerns on the issues such as (i) Burgeoning Population (ii) Per capita land area (iii) Extent of soil and land degradation (iv) Per capita availability of water and soil is the largest reservoir of green water (v) Climate change (vi) Energy level (vii) Per capita grain consumption (viii) Nutritional quality rather than food production to prevent malnutrition (ix) Per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) production to be decreased and (x) World peace is more of scientific issue rather than political one.

He further stated the importance of food as it is indispensable for all human beings and animals as well. Thus, he emphasized that for producing good quality of food there is need to have healthy soils for which a role of soil science is imperative. In this context, he also mentioned the four phases of agricultural revolutions: 1.0 as beginning of agriculture; 2.0 as Mechanization of Agriculture; 3.0 as Green Revolution and 4.0 (2010 onward) an Artificial Intelligence resulting into digitization in agriculture, precision agriculture and thus agricultural transformation with Artificial Intelligence.

He mentioned the contribution of green revolution in terms of food production and food security. He cautioned that the intensive agriculture resulted in over use of fertilizers, pesticides etc and role of soil in transformation of agriculture as a remedial measure to find out solution to such emerging issues. He also suggested one of the alternative as “Regenerative Agriculture” to revive soil and earth planet health. Thus, “Regenerative Agriculture” is the agriculture that do not pollute soil, atmosphere and environment. He urged upon all Scientists, researchers and students to use fertilizer, pesticides etc in optimal level and avoid their over use so that they will act as a medicine and not as a poison.

Dr SP Datta (Director, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal) delivered a talk on importance of soil. He further stated that soil is the centre for all development of human and humanity. He stated that soil is the origin of life. He mentioned about the significance of soil in all spheres of life be it culture and civilization including religion, thoughts, livelihood and health. He indicated that all forms of life are dependent on soil. He further stated the concept of “One Health” indicating soil health as key parameter for all forms of life. He suggested that a concerted effort has to make to restore and improve soil for prosperity and posterity.

About 200-250 delegates including Scientists, Students and farmers attended this event.