In spirit with the UN declaration of year 2015 as International year of soils, two days celebration of World Soil Day ended at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), here on Wednesday with an aim to create awareness on values of healthy soils on their critical importance in our lives.

The theme for this year is “Soils a solid ground for life”. Different events including Poster, Quiz & Documentary competitions were held in two days celebration while a seminar on “Healthy soils for Sustainable Agriculture” was also organized by the PMAS-AAUR, Department of Soil Science and Soil & Water Conservation (SS & SWC). Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR was the chief guest on the occasion. University Deans, Directors, faculty members and large number of students attended the seminar.

While addressing as chief guest, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, PMAS-AAUR highlighted the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system. He stressed on increasing the public awareness of soil and its contribution to humanity and the environment.  He also suggested the soil scientists to have analyzed the soil of whole country for its nature and properties. The maintenance or enhancement of global soil resources is essential if humanity’s need for food, water, and energy security is to be met, Vice Chancellor said. He further said that we failed to connect soil with our food, water, climate, biodiversity and life. We must invert this tendency and take up some preserving and restoring actions, he added. He also shared the latest developments taking place in the developed countries for sustainable management of soils to grow healthy foods

Poster, Quiz and documentary competitions were also held in which students participated and highlighted the present situation of soil degradation which is a result of deforestation, unsustainable land use, pollution, overgrazing and climate change. They also highlighted the importance of soil and the need to use it sustainably. They stressed to connect peoples with soils and raise awareness about the soil and food productivity.