Bhubaneswar, 5 December (H.S.): The State-Level World Soil Day 2025 celebration was held on Friday at the Krushi Bhavan auditorium in Bhubaneswar, highlighting the global theme “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.” The programme underscored the growing significance of soil health in ensuring food security, environmental sustainability, and improved living standards in rapidly urbanizing regions.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, in his keynote address, called upon farmers, researchers, and stakeholders to adopt sustainable farming practices. He emphasized reducing chemical input use, enhancing organic matter, and promoting natural and climate-resilient farming techniques to safeguard soil fertility for future generations.
Principal Secretary of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, outlined the state government’s initiatives to strengthen soil testing infrastructure and bridge knowledge gaps among farmers.
Earlier, Director of Agriculture & Food Production, Shri Shubham Saxena, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the relevance of this year’s theme.
A special video on World Soil Day 2025 was screened, followed by the launch of the Manual on Agricultural Production Technology – Rabi 2025-26. Soil Health Cards were distributed to farmers by the Deputy Chief Minister to promote scientific nutrient management. An exhibition showcasing various soil and agriculture-related innovations was also inaugurated.
During the technical session, experts deliberated on sustainable soil management, natural farming, city compost utilization, urban gardening, and effective use of Soil Health Card recommendations. Several progressive farmers shared field experiences on maintaining soil health.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Director of Soil Conservation & Watershed Development, Shri Subrat Kumar Panda, who acknowledged the contributions of scientists, farmers, and all participants. The celebration reiterated the message that soil is a living, vital resource and its protection is crucial for healthy food systems, healthy people, and healthy cities.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
