Strategy stressed to upgrade soil to increase productivity

Rawalpindi: Speakers emphasised on intrusive policies and strategies by developing the soil management system, investing in the up gradation of soil and through education & effective extension programs to increase the productivity of soil and said, " Only 10% of world soil is being used for food production which must be increased up to 60% by 2050 in order to meet with food needs.

They stated this at a national seminar on Role of Soil in Global Food Supply and oath-taking ceremony of Soil Science Society of Pakistan, held at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), here on Monday.

The seminar was organized by the Institute of Soil Sciences, PMAS-AAUR in coordination with Soil Science Society of Pakistan with an aim to highlight the importance of soil. Dr. Abdul Rasheed, Former President Soil Science Society was the chief guest while Prof. Dr Nadeem Akhtar Abbasi, Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR was the guest of honor.

While addressing the seminar, Dr. Zahir Ahmed Zahir, eminent soil scientist from Institute of Soil & Environment Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad enlightened the importance of soil in perspective of global food supply and said, " Soil is the integral part of any food web. It supports plants & animals while these two depends on soil to fulfill their basic needs."

He said Soil is a slowly renewable resource and its productivity is continuously declining with the increase of population also resulting in loss of one third of arable land." he added. He also guided the audience on soil functions, its uses and the factors affecting its value.

Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR, Prof. Dr Nadeem Akhtar Abbasi stressed the need of collaborative efforts & best utilization of forum to dealt with the issues of soil at national and international levels for the economic uplift of the country and said, " Of-course soil with other environmental factors is essential for life and continuity of soil's life is most important to us."

He hoped the society would play a pivotal role to bridge the gap among education, research and field also he assured every support from varsity for the betterment of Soil Science Society of Pakistan.

Dr. Abdul Rashid, Former President Soil Science Society of Pakistan congratulated the upcoming executives of the society and looked forward for the better leadership ahead. He was in view that having a vibrant and functional society today is because of the efforts of all members who served for the development of science.

An oath-taking ceremony was also held on the occasion in which Prof. Dr Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi, Vice Chancellor University of Muzaffarabad, AJK took oath as the President of society while Prof. Dr Anayat Ullah Rajpar, Dr. Shahid Javed, Dr. Dost Muhammad & Dr. M Sharif Buzdar as Vice Presidents, Dr. Ghulam Murtaza Jamro as General Secretary, Saer Sarwar as Joint Secretary, Dr. M Iqbal as Treasurer while Dr. Javed Shah, Dr. Makshoof Ahmed and Miss Munazza Yusra took oath as the Counselors of the society. Dr. Abdul Rashid took the oath from the new office barriers.