The government is very much conscious to maintain the quality of soil so that the food and nutrition security of the country can be assured. Soil health is extremely important for sustainable production systems and grain productivity too.
Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzak came up with the assertion while speaking as the chief guest virtually at a seminar on World Soil Day on Saturday.
With the theme of ‘Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity’, the seminar was jointly organised by Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI), food and agriculture institutions, Soil Science Society of Bangladesh, and Practical Action Bangladesh at a city hotel in the capital.
He said, “The importance of soil for food and nutrition security for the country's people is immense. Human livelihoods and food security depend on sustainable soil management. Due to rapid urbanization and climate change arable land is decreasing. That is why the soil must be kept alive and the quality of the soil must be maintained.”
“The SRDI is working to maintain the quality of soil in the country. SRDI is inventing new technologies through research to bring saline lands in the southern part of the country, hilly areas land under cultivation. It is playing an important role in sustainable soil management,” the minister further said.
“Not only agriculture but also fish, livestock and poultry food come from the soil. That is why the soil must be kept in a healthy condition. Besides, increasing food production in the country is increasing the density of crops but reducing the productivity of the soil. Soil productivity through sustainable soil management must maintain the quality of essential nutrients in the soil”, he added.
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United State (FAO) said soil protection is utmost important to ensure the future of agri-food systems and the provision of key ecosystem services.
To raise awareness and encourage people around the world to engage in proactively improving soil health, the campaign also aims to fight soil biodiversity loss across the globe.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, and Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Md Mesbahul Islam were present as special guests on the occasion. SRDI Director-General Bidhan Kumar Bhandar presided over the function. Additional Secretary (Extension) of the Ministry of Agriculture Md. Hasanuzzaman Kallol, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiyar, Bangladesh Representative of FAO Robert D. Simpson also spoke on the occasion.
