Thailand, 27 Sep 2005 -- A mid term workshop for an FAO assisted project - Sustainable Use of Problem Soils in Rainfed Agriculture in Northeast Thailand (TCP/THA/2906) - was held in Khon Kaen, Thailand from 18 to 21 April 2005. The meeting appraised project achievements and exchanged information and experience with other neighbouring countries (China, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Egypt), other international, regional and national research institutions and universities.
Recommendations for the Asian region were:
1) Strengthen research programmes on different aspects of salt affected soils (proper cropping patterns to ameliorate salt affected and low fertility soils; development of salt tolerant crop varieties; integrated soil, water and nutrient management; reclamation techniques for salt affected soils through efficient irrigation and drainage systems).
2) Awareness about the extent of salt affected soil and its impact on soil productivity, environment and socio-economic conditions should be increased among the policy makers in the region.
3) Develop special institutional arrangements for effective cooperation and avoiding overlapping of activities at the national level.
4) National governments are encouraged to develop and implement more effective land use planning and associated regulations to ensure sustainability of food production from salt affected soils.
5) More effective linkages among institutes related to salt affected soils in the countries in the region should be established to strengthen dissemination of information, experiences and development of efforts in the field of salt affected and low fertility soils.
Contact: Yuji.Niino@fao.org
More information at:
http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/agll/prosoil/default.htm
http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/agll/lada/
