
World Soil Day – Dec 5, 2023
“World Soil Day” program was organized by Jal Shakti Kendra, Hoshiarpur and Pandit Jagat Ram Memorial Force Trust in collaboration with Ludhiana Beverages Private Limited on December 5, 2023 at Village Mannan. On the occasion information was shared about the importance of Soil Day and the work being done by FORCE Trust. Many farmers of the area participated in this program. The Chief Guest at the event was Dr. Vikram Verma (Soil Testing Expert, Horticulture Laboratory Incharge, Hoshiarpur). Other guests present at the event included Dr. Chaman Lal Vashisht (Retd. Deputy Director, Agriculture) and Sardar Surinder Singh Baryana (Sarpanch of the village).
Dr. Vikram Verma told the farmers that the continuous use of chemicals and pesticides in modern agriculture has reduced the quality of the soil. To increase production, chemical fertilizers are being applied indiscriminately to the soil. Dr. Verma discussed with the participants ways to make the soil fertile. He said that the soil should have adequate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, iron, zinc, copper – the Life elements. To ensure this, he mentioned that one can use cow dung, compost or green manure in the soil.
Under the Water Secure Villages, new technology and methods of conservation farming and multi-cropping through bed & Furrow system have been adopted.