Kashmir to Kanyakumari: Cycle rally to raise awareness about soil testing and soil conservation
A cycle rally has been organised between Jammu and Kanyakumari with an objective to raise awareness about the harms of soil pollution and urge people, mainly farmers for its conservation. The rally is a collaboration between Krishi Tantra and Gaon Connection.
The cycle rally will cover a distance of almost 3,500 kms and pass through 11 states in its journey that is expected to be 40-day long. (Photo: Gaon Connection)
A collaborative effort between Krishi Tantra, a Hyderabad-based social impact start-up, and Gaon Connection, India’s biggest rural media platform, has resulted in a cycle rally event, kicking off from the premises of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology in Jammu, to the country’s southernmost edge of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. The objective is to raise awareness about the degradation of the soil quality in the country and promote measures to conserve it. The event kicked off on March 3.
The cycle rally will cover a distance of almost 3,500 kms and pass through 11 states in its journey that is expected to be 40-day long.
Speaking at the flagging off ceremony of the rally, Sher-e-Kashmir University’s Vice Chancellor JP Sharma said: “In other countries, farming is considered to be an occupation but that is not the case with India. It is not given due importance. We call this earth our mother and the mother has fallen sick now and it is our ethical duty to save it.”
Also, while addressing the gathering of farmers and students, Sandeep Kondaji, CEO of Krishi Tantra, said: “We should conserve the soil as a heritage that we have received from our ancestors. But we have polluted the soil, water and air to a terrible extent. If soil could speak, it would protest against the injustice and exploitation that is being meted out to it. Even then, the future generations will have to suffer the consequences of what is being done in the present day.”
“In this race for profits, we have spoiled the soil’s health. This is the right time for raising awareness about this issue,” he added.
Kondaji is a young entrepreneur and has developed a machine that can test 11 elements in a soil sample. The machine has been installed at the Sher-e-Kashmir University for benefitting the farmers. The university has also announced a free soil testing facility for 500 farmers.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice-Chancellor further stated that the top most layer of the earth which is known as soil — sometimes takes thousands of years in its formation. “It is vital to pay attention to its overall health. The way we are recklessly using chemicals and fertilisers, it has become exceedingly important for the farmers to know about the health of the soil in their fields. So that soil quality can be maintained along,” he said.