New Delhi: Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, Shivraj Singh Chouhan sounded the alarm on Tuesday about soil degradation, which now affects 30 per cent of India’s agricultural land. He urged immediate action to protect soil quality and ensure sustainable agriculture.
Addressing the ‘Global Soil Conference 2024’ held in New Delhi, Chouhan, via video conferencing, emphasised the crucial role of soil health in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like zero hunger, climate action, and biodiversity preservation.
“India produces over 330 million tonnes of foodgrains annually and exports agricultural products worth US$50 billion. While this achievement is remarkable, addressing the urgent concerns about soil health is non-negotiable,” he said.
Threatening Farm Productivity
Chouhan identified key causes of soil degradation, including excessive fertiliser use, unbalanced nutrient application, overexploitation of natural resources, and poor soil management practices. He revealed that degraded soil now threatens agricultural productivity across the country.
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To tackle these issues, Chouhan highlighted government initiatives such as distributing over 220 million soil health cards to farmers. These cards provide detailed information on soil nutrient levels. Additionally, the government promotes sustainable practices like micro-irrigation and organic and natural farming.
However, he stressed the need to scale up these efforts, especially in the face of global warming, unpredictable rainfall, and climate change’s broader impacts. Chouhan also announced the upcoming launch of a modern agriculture programme that will bridge scientific research and practical farming techniques.
Lagging in Soil Conservation Practices
At the conference, NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand pointed out that India and South Asia lag in adopting soil conservation methods such as conservation agriculture and zero tillage. In contrast, countries like Brazil and Argentina have successfully implemented these practices.
Conservation agriculture involves methods like minimal soil disturbance and crop rotation to improve soil health. Zero tillage eliminates traditional ploughing, preserving soil structure and reducing erosion.
Chand urged the Indian Soil Scientists Society (ISSS) to take the lead in promoting regenerative agriculture and natural farming. Though promising, these approaches remain limited to a few NGOs and private organisations.
The conference also featured ICAR Director General Himanshu Pathak and Trilochan Mohapatra, chairperson of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority. Their presence underscored the collaborative effort required to address this critical issue.
The event reinforced the need for immediate, large-scale action to combat soil degradation and ensure the future of sustainable farming in India.
