TURA: Together with rest of the world and the country, the department of Agriculture West Garo Hills in collaboration with the Krishi Vighan Kendra (ICAR), Tura, celebrated the ‘World Soil Health Day cum Rabi Kisan Sanmelan’ here at SMELC hall, Dakopgre, Tura, in befitting manner.
North Tura MLA & Parliamentary Secretary i/c, PHE, Noverfield R Marak, participating in the celebration as the Chief Guest stressed on the need to preserve mother earth which is habitat of all humans, animals, creatures including plants and vegetations created by God. He therefore, urged every one present to love and respect mother earth by not doing things which are destructive in nature which harms her well being in terms of climate, environment and natural resources.
He also expressed his great concern over the erosion of top fertile soils of Garo Hills particularly during rainy season to neighbouring Bangladesh, which according to him, occurs due to wanton and indiscriminate felling of trees in the upland Garo Hills.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Pravin Bakshi, in his deliberation as the Guest of Honour called for concerted efforts on the parts of agriculture scientists and stake holders in the field to carry out extensive and aggressive research works for increase food productivity stating that food sufficiency is not only vital for economic development but would also strongly reflect on the health of the citizens.
Underscoring the importance of celebrating the World Soil Health Day, he said that it assumes significance in the context of Garo Hills as its soil is very fertile where virtually everything grows and deliberations like this would enable agricultural scientists to evolve and formulate policies as to what kind of vegetables and fruits would be best suited to Garo hills.
Recounting his first hand experiences from his just returned trip to Bangladesh Agricultural University at Mymensingh, he said that this particular state of the art university which spreads on an area measuring about 120 acres, produces large numbers of Agriculture Scientists who are responsible for the production and sufficient amounts of agricultural foods for Bangladesh. He mulled the idea that our agriculture and horticulture officers should be sent to this university for study tours instead of going to some European countries whose climatic conditions are vastly different from conditions in the state.
Earlier in his key note address, J R Sangma, joint Director of Agriculture, Tura, informed that the basic idea of celebrating the World Soil Health day was to create awareness among the farmers on how to replenish the degraded and damaged top soils occurring primarily due to natural forces and more often due to various human activities, by way of adopting to scientific and environment friendly methods of cultivation.
C K Marak, District Agriculture Officer, West Garo hills, Tura, A S Singh, Senior Scientist & head i/c KVK, Tura and S N Marak, Research Officer, DLRSL, Tura were among others who also spoke on the occasion.
