Today is World Soil Day and the Agriculture Minister has pledged to promote sustainable practices, advance agricultural innovation and raise awareness.

This year’s theme is “Soil and Water – A Source of Life”.

Minister Kazim Hosein says the Soil and Land Capability Unit and the Engineering Division have been working with farmers to empower them with the knowledge and tools for sustainable soil management and efficient water use.

He adds that the recent modernization of the Soil and Analytical Services Lab has significantly bolstered the ability to conduct chemical analyses of soil and water, thereby enabling more informed decision-making.

He says headway has also been made in constructing water management structures, providing technical advice for on-farm buildings and waste disposal systems, and improving the de-silting of drainage and irrigation channels.