ICAR – CCARI, Old Goa, Goa celebrated ‘World Soil Day and ‘Agricultural Education Day’ on 5th December 2019
ICAR – CCARI, Old Goa, Goa celebrated ‘World Soil Day and ‘Agricultural Education Day’ on 5th December 2019
ICAR – Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Old Goa, Goa celebrated ‘World Soil Day’ and ‘Agricultural Education Day’ on 5th December 2019 at Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the Institute (North Goa), Old Goa. Prof. Varun Sahni, Honorable Vice-Chancellor, Goa University, Taleigaon Plateau, Goa the chief guest and Dr. S. K. Singh, Director, CSIR – National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa was Guest of Honor for the function.
The programme was attended by farmers, students of schools, press and media, Zuari Agrochemical Pvt. Ltd., scientist, subject matter specialist and staff of the Institute and Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Dr. E. B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, Old Goa welcomed the chief guest, guest of honor and participant and apprised about the importance of celebrating the World Soil Day and Agricultural Education Day. He also briefed about the activities carried out by the Institute to create awareness about soils, soil testing, soil test based fertilizer application, agricultural education, etc.
As a part of the event, soil health card to farmers from different villages of the Goa state were given the soil health cards. Students of three different schools participated in an essay competition on ‘How to attract youth in agriculture’ was organized to celebrate ‘Agricultural Education Day’.
Dr. S. K. Singh, emphasized upon importance of soils in our lives. He elaborated need to improve the carbon status of the soil through carbon sequestration to combat the climate change and improve soil fertility. He also urged the scientist to take up initiative to work this research areas.
Chief Guest of the function, Prof. Varun Sahni stressed upon initiative to work in direction to achieve the target as per the “Technology Vision 2035” developed by the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council. The vision document identifies key challenges and needs of India and describe its technology capability landscape in 2035. He congratulated the awardees of essay writing competition and the beneficiaries of the soil health cards. He urged the young minds and researchers upon technological interventions to achieve food and nutritional security. Technical session ‘Soil testing and soil test based fertilizer application’, a demonstration on preparation of Jeevamrut and its use’ and a lecture on ‘Agricultural Education: Introduction and Opportunities’ was organized to celebrate the ‘World Soil Day’ and ‘Agricultural Education Day’