As the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) enters its final days in Dubai, the initiatives of the Bihar government in the fields of soil conservation, climate-resilient agriculture, agriculture road map, and organic agriculture have garnered international praise.
Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Bihar, highlighted these initiatives at the India Pavilion in Expo City during a session titled ‘Actionable Ways for Sustaining Soil Health — A Key Climate Agenda’ on December 10.
COP28, an annual gathering under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), attracts representatives from 198 parties, including 197 countries and the European Union. Running from November 30 to December 12, COP28 serves as a crucial platform for measuring progress, negotiating multilateral responses to climate change, and devising strategies to limit emissions.
During the session on soil health, Mr. Agarwal presented an array of initiatives outlined in Bihar’s agriculture road map, emphasising green, organic, and sustainable agriculture, with a significant focus on climate-resilient practices. Noteworthy features included the innovative soil health card scheme, soil testing, soil fertility mapping, and Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA).
Fourth road map
A global announcement was made during the session regarding the launch of Bihar’s fourth agriculture road map (2023-28), inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on October 18, 2023. Mr. Agarwal said, “The learnings from different soil conservation initiatives have been incorporated into the next five-year plan for sustaining soil health in the fourth agriculture road map.”
He further underscored the significance of the Soil Health Cards (SHC) scheme, empowering farmers with essential information about their soil health.
“Since 2015, 1.46 crore SHCs have been distributed in Bihar,” he mentioned. The SHC scheme is a flagship programme of the Government of India, launched in February 2015.
Discussing steps taken to check soil health and fertility, Mr. Agarwal emphasised the availability of facilities for testing soil samples across Bihar. “Soil testing is a sound, beneficial, and environmentally responsive tool for monitoring nutrient levels and making precise fertilizer recommendations,” he added.
The session also shed light on CRA in Bihar, covering all 38 districts and 190 villages. “The State government is also promoting better cultivation practices, such as mulching, cover crop, crop rotation, and micro-irrigation to improve soil health,” said Mr. Agarwal.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Agarwal claimed that Bihar showcases a compelling narrative, serving as a beacon of hope for global efforts towards prioritising sustainable agriculture and soil health on the international agenda. “Bihar exemplifies how, by combining technological innovation, community engagement, and education, we can forge a path towards a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future,” he said.
“Let Bihar be an inspiration for all of us as we strive to create a world where the health of our soil reflects the health of our planet,” concluded the Agriculture Secretary.
As the curtains come down on COP28 in Dubai on Tuesday, Bihar’s initiatives stand as a testament to the State’s commitment to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.
