Urgent call to check ‘health of soil’ in Sindh

 World Soil Day 2016

HYDERABAD: Experts on Monday called on the government to waste no time in ordering a thorough examination of the health of soil in Sindh as huge losses causes by salinity, water logging, and coastal erosion have left the growers, herdsmen, and fishermen in a very tight spot.

“The subsistence of the majority of the population, associated with agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors, which are facing environmental threats, is at stake,” a senior soil scientist said addressing a moot held here at Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam to mark ‘World Soil Day.’ 

“The data, being used as reference at different forums, about the magnitude of losses, raise a myriad of questions about its own authenticity.”      The faculty members led by SAU Vice Chancellor Dr. Mujeebuddin Memon Sahrai, underscored the need for raising awareness about the importance of soil, which is presently under multiple threats. 

“Excessive use of pesticides in agriculture, fishing in natural streams with poisons, and industrial waste flowing into water courses are visible reasons of a large-scale destruction of nature. They unanimously stressed on raising awareness among farming and fishing communities about the soil "as a critical component of natural system", which is a vital contributor to human wellbeing and maintenance of ecosystem.

  “Soil constitutes the foundation for agricultural development, essential ecosystem functions, and food security. Therefore it is vital to the sustenance of life on earth”, the SAU VC said adding the sustainability of soil is key to sustainable agriculture.   

“Persistent land degradation, subsequent soil contamination, and mismanagement have widely affected the ecology for the worse.”    He appealed to the stakeholders, academia and policymakers to establish a roadmap to ensure better soil management practices from grassroots’ level.  

Professor Inayatullah Rajpar, Chairman, Department of Soil Sciences told the seminar the productive land was being utilized through commercializing and construction of the residential schemes. 

“It is, because urban authorities and policymakers don’t have any knowledge whatsoever about these hazards. Similarly, farmers, who are poisoning the earth with pesticides/fertilizers, are also ignorant of the scale of danger their practices pose to nature”, said Rajpar.

 He suggested that rotation of crops, management of crop residues, judicial use of irrigation/fertilizers, soil management, and use of calcareous soils through biosaline agriculture may improve the fertility of soil to meet the healthy food needs of a fast growing population.  

Addressing the roundtable, Dr Ismail Kumbhar, Director, University Advancement and Financial Assistance highlighted the importance of soil. 

“Increasing soil sodicity, water logging, soil depletion, and lack of organic matter are creating an alarming situation in the province.”    He called on the authorities to take necessary measures for long term soil fertility management and sustainability to improve the soil health for overall environmental protection.  

“This approach will benefit the socio-economics and wellbeing of the farming community”, said Dr Kumbhar.  Dr. Aijaz Ali Khooharo, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, large number of students, faculty members, and experts participated in the event. The moot, held under the international theme “Soils and Pulses, a Symbiosis of Life” was followed by an awareness walk around the campus.