The Ministry for Agriculture’s [MoA], Land Resources Planning Division [LRPD] and stakeholders will be commemorating the International Year of Soils together with the World Day to Combat Desertification so as to reflect on the importance of soil in Fiji.
Director LRPD Nacanieli Waka said the main objective of the event is to enhance greater awareness and understanding of the importance of soils to our daily living while at the same time promoting Sustainable Land Management and soil conservation from the impacts of climate change.
“Celebrations for the one day event will take place next week across all geographical divisions that is Central, Eastern, Western and Northern Divisions,” he said.
Mr. Waka said the celebration venues will be showcasing and displaying techniques of management of land resources to minimize and avoid land degradation and to display the types and chemical composition of all soils of Fiji.
The World Day to Combat Land Degradation which aligns with the United Nation Convention to Combat Degradation is held annually on the 17th of June.
Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management Office together with line Ministries and Departments will take part in the celebration and more importantly key stakeholders such as farmers, agro processors and school children.
Mr Waka said it is essential to promote the proper use of land resources for sustainable development through best practices and management to avoid unnecessary degradation as soil is a medium for plant growth.
The idea of maintaining soil health, he added is to ensure food security and a healthy living for all people in Fiji.