Soil degradation on 30% of India's land poses threat to agriculture: Agri minister

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan connected Tuesday expressed interest implicit ungraded degradation affecting 30 per cent of India's onshore and stressed the request for urgent measures to support ungraded prime for sustainable farming.

Addressing a planetary league connected ungraded done video conferencing, Chouhan said improving ungraded wellness is important for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to zero hunger, clime enactment and beingness connected land.

"We are producing much than 330 cardinal tonnes foodgrains annually and exporting worthy USD 50 billion. This occurrence nevertheless comes with concerns, particularly regarding ungraded health," the curate said.

According to Chouhan, astir 30 per cent of India's onshore is experiencing degradation owed to rising fertiliser consumption, imbalanced usage of fertilisers, exploitation of earthy resources and incorrect ungraded absorption practices.

The curate highlighted assorted authorities initiatives, including the organisation of much than 220 cardinal ungraded wellness cards to farmers and the promotion of micro irrigation, integrated and earthy farming methods.

However, helium emphasised that much focused efforts are needed, peculiarly successful presumption of rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns and clime alteration challenges. A caller programme connected modern agriculture volition soon beryllium launched to span the spread betwixt scientists and farmers, Chouhan added.

Speaking astatine the event, Niti Aayog subordinate Ramesh Chand questioned the constricted adoption of conservation agriculture and zero tillage methods successful India and South Asia, contempt their palmy implementation successful South American countries similar Brazil and Argentina.

While immoderate NGOs and backstage companies are promoting regenerative agriculture and earthy farming, these initiatives stay constricted successful scope, Chand told the conference, calling connected the Indian Soil Scientists Society (ISSS) to spearhead larger-scale solutions.

The league was attended by ICAR Director General Himanshu Pathak, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority Chairperson Trilochan Mohapatra, and ISSS President H Pathak.