Agricultural scientists and researchers here at a post-rally discussion yesterday stressed the need for protecting soil health for upholding crop production to ensure food security of the country. They viewed that the soil productivity has gradually been declining due to topsoil erosion side by side with indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides round the year. On the contrary, they said using organic fertilizers could be an effective means of protecting the soil health.

Regional office of Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) organised the discussion at its office to mark the World Soil Day-2019 with the theme “Stop Soil Erosion, Save Our Future”. Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury addressed the meeting as the chief guest while Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension Shamsul Haque spoke as special guest with SRDI Principal Scientific Officer Dr Abu Tawab Khandaker in the chair.

Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Station Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of regional station of Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute Dr Ilias Hossain, SRDI Principal Scientific Officer Dr Afsar Ali and its Senior Scientific Officer Dr Nurul Islam also spoke on the occasion. The meeting was told that soil nutrients have gradually been declining because of multifarious reasons including various forms of unethical disturbances creating a negative impact on the soil productivity. Disproportionate use of chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides is mainly blamed for continued decline in soil nutrients.

Organic matter requirement is at least 2.5 per cent in a normal soil, whereas the content in the area was found less than 1.3 per cent and even less than one per cent in some soils. Dr Akram Chowdhury said substantial and sustainable uses of required organic fertilizers in the farming fields are very important for boosting its health and productivity which is imperative for feeding the country’s gradually rising population. He added that plant and animal waste based fertilizer has a vital role towards protecting the soil nutrients. There is no alternative to protect the soil nutrients from further declining trend amidst the adverse impact of climate change. Dr Chowdhury put emphasis on creating awareness among the farmers in general on the issue.