LAHORE: The provincial agriculture department on Tuesday arranged a seminar and walk on the World Soil Day to raise awareness about the importance of health and fertility of the earth.

This year, the theme of the day has been given by FAO as “soil and water which are the basis of life”.

Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Chief Scientist Dr Muhammad Akhtar said that the land is a priceless gift of nature that produces food for us. Today’s day reiterates that we should use our land and water resources carefully. Soil water testing labs have been set up across the country to analyze the soil and identify nutrients in it.

He said the agriculture department has so far taken millions of soil samples to establish a database and provide farmers with soil samples. A detailed report on the health of the soil is also sent, in the light of which the farmers can increase their production per acre by promoting the balanced use of fertilizers for their soil.

Agriculture Director General Dr Ishtiaq Hasan said if the soil is healthy, it can produce abundant crops.

Chief Scientist of Fertility Institute, Lahore, Kazi Muhammad Akram said this institute has helped the farmers with Android mobile application “Khad Hissab” for guidance and balanced use of fertilizers in the land according to their budget, with the help of which farmers can get information about balanced use of fertilisers according to their available budget and crop. The Soil Fertility Institute is also taking samples of farmers’ lands and sending reports on nutrient deficiencies and their solutions with the aim of maintaining soil health in the province and achieving maximum production.

A large number of agricultural experts, farmers and other stakeholders participated in the seminar. At the end of it, participants also organised an awareness walk which started from Agriculture Offices and ended at Thokar Niaz Beg.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2023