Several agriculture-oriented organisations observed World Soil Day today in the state.
World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on December 5 as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. The theme this year was ‘Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage’ .
ICAR-KVK Ri-Bhoi organised a programme at Kyrdem village.The aim of the programme was to create awareness and enhance the knowledge on soil health management, benefits of soil health cards, management of problematic soil and control of soil degradation for sustainability of soil and enhancement of crop productivity.
Around 75 farmers participated with seven ICAR-KVK Ri-Bhoi officials. Several insightful talks were delivered by the resource persons and soil health cards and agri-inputs like pea seed, rajma seed, lime and neem cakes were distributed to the farmers.
The ICAR-KVK West Garo Hills also celebrated the day in Bolchugre village with a similar programme. Here around 30 farmers were in attendance.
Meanwhile, NESFAS held an interactive session at its Shillong office with East Khasi Hills farmers. Kitboklang Nongrum, a conservation biologist at NESFAS, shared an insight on how to bridge the gap between traditional wisdom and modern science. He discussed the importance of integrating both approaches to ensure sustainable soil management and emphasised the need to link agroecology learning circle initiatives with knowledge gaps to compile the best practices and knowledge from indigenous farming communities and to share it with the rest of the world.
The College of Community Science, Central Agricultural University (Imphal) Tura organised a programme at Jijikapara village to highlight the importance and linkage of soil management and healthy ecosystems to human well-being.
Thirty farmers from the village attended the program and received vermicompost and biofertilizer for soil health.
