‘REGENERATE AND SAVE THE SOIL, OR FACE FAMINE’

SHILPA REDDY,

People talk about climate change, global warming, pollution, water shortages, and other issues, but there is little awareness of the dangerous situation we are in as a result of soil desertification and a lack of soil conservation. According to scientific studies, approximately 62 percent of Indian agricultural land will turn into sand

(desert) after 80 harvests, and 80 harvests equals only another 20 to 25 years. Overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, as well as ploughing the soil deeply and leaving it barren without tree cover, have depleted the soil of microorganisms and organic content (as the micro-organisms depend on carbon sent to the soil by the tree roots for food and in turn they supply vital minerals and nutrients for plants to grow). A soil devoid of organic matter is nothing more than sand.” “Acute food shortage globally means famine and starvation deaths, riots, civil unrest everywhere and there won’t be any humanity or civilized society left. Given the gravity of the situation, I support Conscious Planet’s movement to raise global awareness about soil conservation and regeneration. Sadhguru has been riding across India, attempting to rally support from nearly half of the world’s

population so that leaders are compelled to make a policy change. We are now in the final stretch of time to take the necessary steps and turn the situation around within the next two decades. The government must devise policies to protect the soil, as well as provide incentives to farmers to ensure that agricultural lands have at least 30% plant cover.”