Port Blair, Dec. 5: The Department of Agriculture in association with Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) celebrated ‘World Soil Day, 2022’ on the theme ‘Soils: Where Food Begins’ at Namunaghar Gram Panchayat today.  Shri Y.Yenketeswar, Pradhan, Namunaghar Gram Panchayat was the chief guest on the occasion while Shri Mohammed Safiq, Pradhan, Mithakhari Gram Panchayat was the guest of honour.  PRIs members and villagers of Namunaghar attended the programme.

In his address, the Pradhan Namunaghar expressed motivated the farmers to save the soil and avail the benefits of various schemes implementing by the Agriculture Department.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ramesh Kumar, Joint Director (Agri), HQ Department of Agriculture highlighted the history, importance of ‘World Soil Day’ and its value and benefits for preserving healthy ecosystem.

Shri C.Vinod Kumar, Assistant Director (Soil), HQ briefed about the Soil Health Card and the methodology adopted for collecting Soil Samples from farmer’s field for analysis purposes to determine the Soil fertility status while Shri Navashakti, Agriculture Officer, South Andaman briefed about the challenges in soil management and its significance in food production.  Smti. Tanuja Begum, Agriculture Officer (Soil) threw light on Soil Conservation schemes implemented by the Agriculture Department.

The Pradhan, Mithakhari while addressing the gathering expressed his gratitude to the Department for organizing such programme and delivering valuable information about the cropping techniques and importance of Soil management.   During the programme, Soil Health Cards were distributed to the farmers by the Pradhan, Namunaghar and Joint Director (Agri), HQ.

A feedback and interaction session with the farmers was also held.  Altogether 50 farmers along with Departmental Officers/Officials and ATMA staff of Ferrargunj Block participated in the programme.