DHAKA, Dec 5, 2024 (BSS)- Agriculture Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today soil health should be protected to boost up food production.

He also laid importance on giving importance to agriculture to ensure discrimination free and balanced economic development of the country.

The adviser said this while addressing a seminar marking the World Soil Day (WSD) at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium in the city.

"Agriculture sector may play a vital role to reduce unemployment in the country. It’s not possible to bring smile in the face of 70 percent population of the country who are dependent on agriculture,” he said.

Laying importance on enhancing practical research in the agricultural sector the adviser said result of each research should be made available for farmers. 

Importance should be given to save the agricultural land and check eroding of fertile agriculture in the name of industrialization, he added.

Pointing out huge government subsidy to farmers for fertilizer the adviser said, time has come to think how long the subsidy should continue. Research should be strengthened to reduce use of chemical fertilizer in the agriculture, he said.

The adviser urged the agriculturists to be more careful to protect water bodies and forest areas, harvesting rain water, promote forestation, ensure proper use of soil and follow natural agriculture method aimed at conservation of the nature.

Agriculture secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Miah presided over the programme, while Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Bangladesh Representative Dr Jiaoqun Shi was present as the special guest.

Professor Dr M Zahir Uddin of Soil Science Department of Bangladesh Agriculture University presented the keynote paper.

Soil health protection is crucial as soil supplies more than 95 percent of food. Plants get 15 of the 18 naturally occurring chemical elements essential from soil. 

However, in the face of climate change and human activity, soils are being degraded. Erosion is disrupting the natural balance, reducing water infiltration and availability for all forms of life apart from decreasing the level of vitamins and nutrients in food.

Making people aware about the sustainable soil management practices, such as minimum tillage, crop rotation, organic matter addition, and cover cropping can help improve soil health, reduce erosion and pollution, and enhance water infiltration and storage.

The practices also help preserving soil biodiversity, improve fertility, and contribute to carbon sequestration, playing a crucial role in the fight against climate change.

This year the World Soil Day 2024 (WSD) would be observed across the globe with the theme- Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage,” to achieve sustainable soil management for food security.