A national dialogue, titled ‘Soil Health Status of Pakistan: Potential Threats and Remedial Measures’, was held at the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi on December 29, 2016.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rai Niaz Ahmad was invited to the dialogue as the chief guest. Scientists from various organizations, including Dr Abdul Majid, the country manager for the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), university faculty members and students attended the event.

The speakers said that soil management practices must be reviewed to improve food production so farmers are aware of the fertility of soil in the farms. They highlighted various issues related to Pakistani soil, as well as solutions and the sustainable use of soils as a precious resource. They urged for awareness-raising among farmers and decision makers about the importance of soils for human health, and called for agro-based private sector industries to work on soil management. 

In his address, Dr Ahmad said the sustainability of limited soil reserves needs to be promoted, and soil scientists should play their role in meeting the future challenges to food security in Pakistan. He also shared some of the latest developments in sustainable soil management for health foods, adding that agricultural production could be doubled if soil efficiency is improved. Dr Ahmad also emphasized the need to educate the farming community about modern farming methods at a grassroots level. He said consistent efforts are required to improve natural resources – particularly soil. He also expressed the hope that dialogue participants would devise key recommendations for policymakers that would help devise strategies to address soil-related problems.