National Consultations For The National Soil Conservation Policy Held In Harare
By Desire Tshuma
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development in conjunction with diverse institutions held a workshop Thursday to discuss the pertinent subject of soil conservation in reviewing Zero Draft of the National Soil Conservation Policy.
The United Nations through the Food and Agriculture Organization developed and adopted the global soil charter in 1981. Soil charter was reviewed in 2015 because there was an urgent need to update the vision and guiding principles as spelled out some 30 years ago by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) member countries in the World Soil Charter in 1981. “The 13 principles which were listed in the charter are still valid, but there is need to be updated and reviewed in light of new scientific knowledge gained over the past years ” said Professor Obert Jiri .
Professor Jiri highlighted new issues that have emerged in the past 30 years like soil pollution and its consequences for the environment, climate change adaptation and mitigation and urban sprawl impacts on soil availability and functions.
“Soil is the basis of agriculture and it should be preserved , soils are fundamental to life on earth but human pressures on soil resources are reaching critical limits . Further loss of productive soils amplify food price volatility and send millions of people into poverty but this can be avoided through careful soil management” added Professor Obert Jiri.
Several measures were discussed as a way forward to develop a comprehensive National Soil Policy and these will make a proper soil preservation.
The Ministry of Lands , Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development together with different institutions agreed to work together to; promote sustainable soil management, enhance soil fertility and health, prevent soil erosion and degradation as evidenced by siltation of water sources e.g dams and rivers, support climate change mitigation and adaption and foster a multi disciplinary, holistic approach, collaboration and coordination among stakeholders since soil is the backbone of all forms of land use.
