Celebrating World Soil Day 2024: ICRISAT Champions Soil Health Initiatives
Media Release
Hyderabad, 5 December 2024: In alignment with World Soil Day 2024, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is involved in a week-long series of events emphasizing the critical importance of soil health and sustainable land management.
As part of the celebrations, ICRISAT actively participated in the flagship event organized by the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, “Healthier Soils, Livable Planet,” held in New Delhi on 5 December. Simultaneously, an awareness session was conducted at the International School of Hyderabad, engaging young minds in understanding the role of soil in sustaining life and ecosystems.
ICRISAT also hosted the annual CompacSol workshop, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to addressing soil health challenges. This week’s activities include a scheduled visit by farmers to ICRISAT's state-of-the-art soil laboratory.
"This year’s World Soil Day theme, “Caring for Soil—Measure, Monitor, and Manage,” underscores the importance of systematic soil health solutions. ICRISAT embodies this theme by driving initiatives integrating soil health measurement, digital monitoring, and promoting sustainable soil management practices," said Dr Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim of ICRISAT.
World Bank Event: Healthy Soils, Livable Planet
In New Delhi, Dr ML Jat, ICRISAT’s Global Research Program Director for Resilient Farm and Food Systems, participated in a panel discussion on “Soil as a Core Pillar for Planet, People, and Sustainable Agriculture.” The event featured dignitaries, including Mr Ram Nath Thakur, Honorable Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary Agriculture Government of India, and World Bank Country Director for India, Auguste Tano Kouamé.
Soil Awareness for School Children
At the International School of Hyderabad, 185 students (Kindergarten to Grade 5), teachers, and ICRISAT staff engaged in interactive activities such as FAO-themed videos, quizzes, mobile soil testing, and hands-on seed planting—these efforts aimed to foster environmental responsibility and instill a lifelong appreciation for soil health.
CompacSol Workshop: Regional Collaboration for Soil Health
Held from November 25–27, the CompacSol workshop brought together experts from eight institutions across India and Southeast Asia. Participants explored strategies to tackle soil compaction, an often-overlooked form of land degradation, and discussed creating a regional data repository. Supported by IRD France, the workshop reinforced ICRISAT’s leadership in generating high-quality soil data and promoting standardized methods through collaborations with networks like the Global Soil Laboratory Network and SEALNET.
This work aligns with SDGs 13, 15 and 17.
Jemima Mandapati