Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 23: A two-day national symposium on ‘Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Hill Farming Systems’ for livelihood security was inaugurated at the Conference Hall of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology here today.
The symposium is being organised by Soil Conservation Society of India, Jammu Chapter in collaboration with Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of SKUAST-Jammu.
Minister of Agricultural Production, Ghulam Hassan Mir was the chief guest while, Minister for Housing, Horticulture, Youth Affairs, Sports and Culture, Raman Bhalla was the guest of honour on the occasion.
Dr. K.R. Sharma, Professor and Head, Convener and president Jammu chapter of the Soil Conservation Society of India extended warm welcome to the dignitaries and delegates from all parts of the country and abroad for showing keen interest in attending the symposium.
Ghulam Hassan Mir expressed happiness that a symposium which focuses on burning issues of depletion of natural resources is being organized in SKUAST-J. Mr. Mir stressed that soil, water and biodiversity are three most important natural resources and are being depleted fast thereby damaging the productivity of soil and hence affects the livelihood security of the farmers badly. The wide spread multinutrient deficiencies and organic matter content results in low and decelerated total factor productivity growth rates. He further stressed that there is high inequity in water use and irrigation development let alone the fast receding aquifers which were once seen in every part.
Mr. Bhalla also stressed on plantation of horticultural trees and crops so that the problem of soil erosion is minimized in slopy lands besides adoption of soil conservation measures in hilly areas so that the precious top soil loss is minimized. He expressed hope that the recommendations coming out of the symposium will provide a practical road map for improving the overall agricultural scenario of J&K state and effective technologies will be developed for the conservation and management of natural resources besides ensuring livelihood security to poor farmers through adoption of other enterprises such as aquaculture, poultry, sheep rearing, livestock rearing etc.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu stressed on the need to adopt farming systems approach for meeting the livelihood security of small and marginal farmers of both hills and plains. He stressed on conservation of natural gifts to the mankind i.e. soil, water and vegetation which are the three factors that result in production of food and other requirements of entire mankind. He stressed for resource conservation technologies such as conservation tillage, Soil test symposium on such a crucial and burning issue relevant to survival of the mankind in coming years and expressed deep satisfaction for receiving support of a galaxy of the eminent speakers who have made a mark in their chosen field of research for giving their valuable time to present lead papers in this symposium.
Dr. J. K. Ladha, and Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-J who are Internationally renowned scientist in the field of soil science were conferred with the Life Time Achievement Award by the Soil Conservation Society of India this year for their significant contributions in the field of soil science during the inaugural function.
During the technical session the eminent speakers from India and abroad spoke on various topics of immense importance and stressed on reducing the indiscriminate use of synthetic fertilizers does not deplete the soil organic matter status of the soil.
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