Take dedicated policies to conserve soil fertility
It is indeed alarming that the country’s soil fertility is declining due to non-stop crop cultivation on the same land and frequent application of pesticides leading to a huge loss of agricultural productivity in the long run. According to a recent news report, scientists at a seminar fear that rapid loss of soil fertility is posing a serious threat to the nation’s food security and future plans.
In Bangladesh, non-stop cultivation of land over the years coupled with over-application of chemical fertilizers, removal of topsoil for creating new urban centres and excessive withdrawal of groundwater are the main reasons for damaging soil fertility. Sadly, there is no authority to oversee and control the rampant destruction of soil fertility in the country. Not only it is soil – authorities concerned in all areas only become mindful after a shocking disaster occurs.
A recent in-depth study on the arability of the soil has revealed that the organic content in about 60 per cent of the country’s land area has dangerously fallen below two per cent – which should be five per cent in an ideal situation. However, under internationally accepted standards 3.4 per cent organic content makes the soil fertile. The loss of organic matter content means the loss of productivity and life of the soil. From a technical perspective, soil’s organic matter is stored within its top layers within a few centimetres, and it is removed with the removal of the topsoil. Organic matter deficiency hampers the entire soil system, meaning its physical, chemical and biological activities get diminished.
We draw the immediate attention of the agriculture authorities and those responsible for the conservation of soil to take the experts’ recommendations at the earliest. We have over-exploited our country’s soil and now nature is accordingly seeking revenge. It is indisputably a wake-up call for the agriculture sector.
We are afraid continued exploitation of soil top may seriously impact food production at a time when population growth is exponentially demanding more food to feed millions of new mouths. It is true we can’t increase our landmass but we can increase crop productivity. That needs careful conservation of soil and on top of it; we stop the continued erosion of soil fertility for reasons such as salinity, drought and destruction of soil top. We must have dedicated policies for the conservation of our soil.
