Srinagar, Feb 01: Director Research, SKUAST-K, Prof. Sarfaraz Ahmad Wani, underscored the need to restore one billion degraded hectares of soil across the country by ensuring soil security.
“Out of the total geographical area of India which is 328.7 million hectares, 96.4 million hectares (29.37%) are under degradation,” Prof. Wani said during his inaugural address in a training program organized by SKUAST-Kashmir here.
SKUAST-Kashmir successfully organized two divisional-level training programs, “Mushroom Cultivation” on January 31 and “Soil Resource Information System” on February 1. Both programs were conducted at Vice Chancellor’s Secretariat SKUAST-K, Shalimar.
The programs were chaired by Prof. Sarfaraz Ahmad Wani, Director Research, SKUAST-K, and attended by officers of the line department and scientists of KVKs.
The Director Research in his inaugural address said, “Nation has taken a pledge to restore 1 billion degraded hectares of soil by 2030 as the degradation leads to less organic carbon, erosion, acidification, nutrient imbalance, and biodiversity loss leading to food & nutrition insecurity and reduction of ecosystem service.”
He said soil degradation leads to the loss of soil microorganisms and makes it unable to produce healthy foods with the necessary nutrients for a healthy person. “To ensure food, nutrient and water security and to protect biodiversity we have to ensure soil security. We have to start to protect our soil and find ways and means for land resource mapping and land sustainability to avoid soil extinction,” he said.
The Director Research also briefed about the potential of mushroom cultivation in J&K. He explained the gaps and constraints in the production and processing of various species of mushrooms and the ways and means to overcome them.
Dr. Javed Ahmad Wani, Prof. & Head, Division of Soil Science, FoH and Dr. Shabir Ahmad Bangroo, Asstt. Prof. delivered/present the presentation. Dr. Irfan Bisati (Associated Scientist) conducted the proceedings of the session. The presentation was followed by an interaction/feedback session with the participants.
