The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the state’s  Department of  Agriculture and National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, NERC, Jorhat is aimed at bringing positive ramifications for Arunachal’s agriculture aspirations. This is since the project will pave the way for a much needed soil and land data bank of the state, relying on which various departments which deal with land based activities can formulate their plans in a more judicious manner. This is expectedly going to be a great boon for a state where agriculture is more a way of life than occupation.
Among the multitude of resources bestowed by nature, land and more particularly soil is a major one that has led to flourish of civilizations for thousands of years. But despite providing food, fuel and all the basics without which life wouldn’t have sustained, soil is perhaps the least cared, grossly neglected and most misused natural resource. And in a hugely populated country like India where feeding the teeming millions is always a major national concern, scientific handling of this precious, finite and non-renewable resource is of great importance. The situation has taken a more precarious turn as the overall soil and land resources of the country are on a decline due to prolonged degradation, diversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes and other factors, all contributing to dwindling of national food productivity. To combat with these issues comprehensively, NBSS&LUP, which is an Indian Council of Agricultural Research organization has been playing a major role over decades. With the development soil database and maps and application of latest technologies such as GIS, GPS etc. it is now a lot more easier to deal with the pertinent issues of watershed management, soil health restoration, irrigation scheduling, integrated nutrient management against an alarming backdrop of climate change. It goes without saying that all these have an immediate impact on the fortunes of the farmers and ultimately on the country’s economy.
For landlocked Arunachal, formulating a consistent Soil & Land Use Plan is of huge necessity, since there is still lack of comprehensive information on the condition of its land resources which in turn is interlinked with the state’s farming productivity and protection of agricultural resources. The hardworking Arunachalee farmer, horticulturist or livestock rearer  and who have been churning out wonders exclusively on the strength of knowledge inherited through legacy over the years, will perhaps get a more scientific supplement in his or her efforts as there will be a tailor-made and ready to use set of guidelines at hand for reference.
The initiative, which has the potential to bring perceptible changes in the state’s agriculture canvas, can thus be termed as a soil saving exercise.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List