New Delhi, November 19, 2024.
Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the Global Soils Conference 2024 organized in PUSA New Delhi today through video conferencing. Union Agriculture minister said that the basic mantra of Indian culture is the belief in a shared consciousness among all beings. Our sages have taught that there is only one universal consciousness in everyone; hence, the whole world is one family, and we should treat everyone as our own. This consciousness is not limited to humans but extends to animals as well. He also added that it is also present in the soil, emphasizing that soil is not lifeless but living.
Shri Chouhan stated that our body is made up of various elements, among which soil is a major component and only if there is soil, there is life. If the soil becomes unhealthy, living beings cannot remain healthy either. We complement each other, so it is essential to ensure that the soil remains healthy. Today, the whole world is concerned about the health of the soil. This earth does not belong to us alone; animals and plants also have rights to it, Shri Chouhan added. He also emphasized that soil health is a matter of serious concern today. India has made remarkable progress in agriculture since independence. At one time, there was a shortage of food grains in the country, and food had to be imported from other nations. However, the Green Revolution brought about a significant transformation in India, the union minister added. The adoption of high-yielding crops and their varieties, better irrigation techniques, and modern agricultural systems have ensured food security for millions of Indians. Following this, the Rainbow Revolution further diversified agriculture through horticulture, dairy, aquaculture, poultry, and other sectors, making agriculture a main pillar of the Indian economy. “I am pleased to share that India now produces 330 million tonnes of food grains annually, contributing significantly to global food trade and generating $50 billion in export earnings” the union Agriculture minister said.
Shri Chouhan also added that increasing use and dependence on chemical fertilizers, indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources and unstable weather have put pressure on the soil. Today India’s soil is facing a major health crisis. According to many studies, 30 percent of our soil has been spoiled. Soil erosion, salinity, pollution are reducing the level of essential nitrogen and micro nutrients in the soil. The lack of organic carbon in soil has weakened its fertility and resilience. These challenges not only affect production but will also create livelihood and food crisis for farmers in the times to come, Union Minister said. Our government has taken many initiatives for soil conservation and which leads to higher soil fertility. Making Soil Health Card was started in 2015 under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. More than 220 million cards have been made and given to farmers. And Farmers now know which fertilizer to use in what quantity through the soil health card. Under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana- Per Drop More Crop, we have focused on judicious use of water, reducing wastage and reducing peak nutrient residues. An organic basic development compilation has been created for the North East and farmers in these 8 states are being motivated to adopt organic farming practices while protecting the biodiversity of the ecologically sensitive area. The work of making natural farming a mission is also going on in India. He also said that chemical fertilizers are not only deteriorating the health of the soil but also the health of humans and animals. To maintain soil fertility, integrated nutrient and water management methods will have to be adopted. We should take all measures to improve soil health, reduce soil erosion and water storage capacity through various methods like micro irrigation, crop diversification, agro-forestry etc.
