Rising salinity in soil could threaten food security: Experts

KARACHI: Agriculture and soil experts of Sindh expressed their concerns that rapidly increasing salinity in the soil could pose a serious threat to food security and rising salinity in agricultural land due to various reasons is having a profound effect on the agricultural production of the country.

World Soil Day was observed and hosted by Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam in collaboration with Soil Science Society of Pakistan, Soil Science Department and Farm Advisory Centre.

Addressing a seminar on “Halt soil salinization, boost soil productivity” at Dr AM Sheikh Auditorium Hall, SAU vice chancellor Dr Fateh Marri said that climate change, rising substandard groundwater in agriculture land and sea water interference are the main reasons for the increase in salinity in agricultural land.

He said that with a focus on reducing the salinity of the soil, research on crop cultivation on saline affected lands should be intensified, in this regard, he also announced the establishment of Bio-Saline Agriculture Centre at the varsity.

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SAU Department of Soil Science chairman Dr Inayatullah Rajpar said that agricultural land of Sindh is most affected by salinity, although no salinity survey has been conducted in Sindh for a long time,  at present 6.3 million hectares of land is deteriorating due to salinity.

Fauji Fertilizer Company Deputy Manager Marketing Abdul Jaleel Jarwar said:  “We have to live with the soil affected by salinity, therefore, biological control can be used to grow crops on land, at present agricultural land covers an area of 7.9 million hectares affected by salt.”

Nuclear Institute of Agriculture Soil and Environmental Sciences head  Nizamuddin Depar said many crops could be cultivated under bio-saline agriculture, adding that housing schemes were increasingly being built on agricultural land.

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Soil Science Society of Pakistan general secretary Dr Ghulam Murtaza Jamro said healthy soil is an important component of agriculture, agricultural scientists can solve problems being faced by local farmers by providing them with the latest technology information on soil fertility.

Nuclear Institute of Agriculture director Mehboob Ali Siyal, Dean Dr Naimatullah Leghari, Dean Dr Syed Ghiyasuddin Shah,

Action Against Hunger Pakistan project manager Zahoor Ahmed Palejo, Pir Ahmad Naqi Shah and Dr Ziaul Hassan Shah Dr Syed Javed Shah, Nabi Bakhsh Jamro and others participated in.

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A poster exhibition was also displayed by students regarding the soil while winners of the fair were awarded cash prizes and positions as Iqra is ranked first; Razia Sultana second and Alia Rajput third.