Dhaka, – Sustainable soil management could result in 58 percent more food being produced globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said on the occasion of World Soil Day today. The importance of soil management is particularly important in Bangladesh where it is estimated that three quarters of soil is now nutrient deficient.

The Ministry of Agriculture led a celebration today in Dhaka, attended by the honourable minister, Muhammad Abdur Razzaque. FAO Representative in Bangladesh Robert D. Simpson spoke of the relationship between soil health and food security. “By respecting and investing in soil health, Bangladesh puts itself in a much better position to achieve food and nutrition security and build resiliency to environmental shocks and climate change.”

Keynote speaker Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), highlighted the Khamari app that was recently updated in partnership with BARC, FAO, and the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI), to provide better access to soil health information.

The theme this year is ‘Soils: where food begins’. The most widely recognized function of soil is supporting food production. Soils need to be recognized and valued for their productive capacities as well as their contribution to food security and the maintenance of key ecosystem services. It is estimated that 95 percent of our food is directly or indirectly produced on our soils. Healthy soils supply the essential nutrients, water, oxygen and root support that our food-producing plants need to grow and flourish.

Robert D. Simpson said: “It’s estimated that 58 percent more food could be produced through sustainable soil management. That’s a huge amount. Imagine the contribution that could make to global food and nutrition security, including Bangladesh. Imagine the difference it could make to boosting the economy and reducing poverty.”

Soil is a finite resource, meaning its loss and degradation is not recoverable within a human lifespan. It takes one thousand years to make 1 cm of soil. It is therefore a precious natural resource, but it is often overlooked and taken for granted.

Soil degradation is caused by unsustainable land uses and management practices, and climate extremes that result from various social, economic and governance drivers. Investing in soils is critical for Bangladesh’s sustainable development, as is recognized in a number of national targets and strategies related to soil health. These include prioritizing sustainable soil management practices mentioned in the country’s National Agriculture Policy (2018), Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, and Eighth Five Year Plan.

Practices that increase soil organic matter, soil nutrient balance, and soil water retention, should become standard among food producers. Promoting these practices may include balanced fertilizer application, cropdiversification (especially with pulses), soil nutrient measurement and mapping, and improving soil health management services to farmers.