RAJSHAHI, Dec 5, 2023 (BSS) - Protection of soil health can be the crucial
means of boosting food production coupled with ensuring food security of the
gradually rising population.
 
All the field level agricultural officials and staff should come forward and
work together to protect the soil health to keep up its productivity as
defending soil health from further degradation is very important.
 
Soil health experts and administrative officials came up with the observation
while addressing a pre-rally discussion meeting in observance of the World
Soil Day-2023 held at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) here
today.
 
The Regional Office of the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI)
organised the meeting. This year's theme of the day is "Soil and Water: A
Source of Life".

World Soil Day 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.

With SRDI Principal Scientific Officer Sadia Afrin in the chair, the meeting
was addressed, among others, by Additional Deputy Commissioner Kolyan
Chowdhury, Chief Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research
Institute Dr Ilias Hossain, Manager of Barind Multipurpose Development
Authority ATM Rafiqul Islam and Additional Deputy Director of Department of
Agriculture Extension Sabina Begum.
 
During her keynote presentation, Sadia Afrin said substantial and sustainable
uses of required organic fertilizers in the farming fields are very important
for boosting soil health and its productivity.
 
Plant and animal waste based fertilizer has a vital role towards protecting
the soil nutrients which are being declined due to various natural and man-
made catastrophes, she said.
 
There is no alternative to protect the soil nutrients from further declining
trends amidst the adverse impact of climate change.
 
She urged the field level agricultural officials and staff concerned to
motivate and encourage the farmers towards promoting soil test based
fertilization to contain the soil health related crisis.
 
Dr Ilias Hossain suggested the use of organic as well as plant and animal
waste-based fertilizer in Barind area's soil for boosting its health as it is
declining due to various natural and man-made catastrophes.
 
Protecting soil health from further degradation has become an urgent need to
ensure food security of the gradually rising population in the country.
 
Kolyan Chowdhury urged the participants to make the best use of the knowledge
acquired from the meeting in their professional fields properly so that the
grassroots farmers can derive total benefits of the updated soil resource
guide.