District-Level Workshop on Integrated Soil Health Management for Salinity Mitigation Held in Puri
Puri : A District-Level Workshop on Integrated Soil Health Management for Salinity Mitigation was organized by Humara Bachpan Trust at the CDAO Conference Hall, Puri, bringing together senior officials from Agriculture and Soil Conservation departments, technical experts, and field functionaries., and progressive farmers from Banakhandi and Simili Gram Panchayats of Gop Block.
Chief District Agriculture Officer Shri Chandramohan Chand and Additional Director of Soil Conservation Shri Jyotiranjan Mishra were present, along with Dr. Sarthak Pattanayak (KVK, Agronomy), Ms. G. Sweta (ADA, Soil Chemist), Ms. Bharati Malla (AAO), Ms. Jayalaxmi Sahoo (BAO, Gop Block), and Shri Radhakanta Mishra (Soil Conservation Officer, Gop). Officials from MSTL, STL, and the District Agriculture Office also participated.
The workshop was conducted under the project “Localizing Data Science for Climate Change Adaptation”, implemented in partnership with UNDP India under the Climate Smart Village approach. Technical presentations based on GIS soil typology, remote sensing analysis, and Soil Health Card data revealed critical soil health concerns in Gop Block.
Key Issues Highlighted
• Soil Organic Carbon levels as low as 0.31–0.36%
• Widespread Nitrogen deficiency
• Severe Boron and Zinc micronutrient gaps
• Nutrient imbalance due to prolonged chemical fertilizer use
• Emerging salinity risks in low-lying deltaic landscapes
Experts emphasized that declining organic carbon and poor drainage are accelerating soil degradation and increasing vulnerability to climate variability.
Farmers shared traditional practices such as compost and FYM application, pond silt use, summer ploughing, and paddy–pulse rotation. These practices were recognized as effective regenerative measures that complement scientific soil management approaches.
A key outcome of the workshop was the adoption of a phased 1–2–5 Year Soil Health Management Plan under the technical supervision of the Soil Conservation Department, with convergence support from the Agriculture Department. The roadmap includes immediate nutrient correction and organic carbon enhancement, medium-term soil structure stabilization, and long-term landscape-level conservation and climate resilience measures.
