On the occasion of Earth Day on Wednesday, experts have highlighted the need to check the nutritional imbalance in soil. “There is a need of visionary approach towards the use of land and water,” said Mangala Rai, vice-chancellor of GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) Pantnagar.
Rai was speaking at a programme called Soil and water the living legends — Culture and agriculture in action, organised at Pantnagar University campus on Wednesday.
“With 17 per cent of the world’s human population and 11 per cent livestock population, the pressure on 2.4 per cent of world’s land in India is five to six times more than the world average. More so, minimum estimated 1.40C increase in temperature in the ongoing century would lead to an increase in water, energy and nutrient requirements. So these climate changes will also tell upon food production and livelihood security,” said Rai.
He further said that the soil health deterioration due to nutrient imbalances is the major aspect to be looked into for proper use of the natural resources. The water which is wasted most in agriculture and through pollution needs immediate attention for increasing water productivity and its conservation, he added. Suggesting measures for sustainability of land and water resources along with food productivity and quality, Rai emphasisd upon land, crop and animal husbandry, sustainable intensification of agriculture, agricultural productivity enhancement and loss prevention, realignment of programmes and policies with subsidy and overall review of agricultural policies vis-à-vis challenges of maintaining soil health and water quality as well as availability, to set the things in the right direction.
Earlier, Vir Singh, Director Communication, the GBPUAT, Pantnagar, speaking on this occasion called for protecting the natural resources by way of employing scientific measures. Among others J Kumar, Dean Agriculture, was present on the occasion.