Training on sustainable management of salt-affected areas begins

A five-day national training programme on ‘Management of salt-sffected areas through sustainable land management (SLM) practices, organised by the ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM), Dehradun, began on Monday.

A total of 25 participants representing a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including officers from forest, agriculture, soil conservation and irrigation departments of Haryana and Punjab, along with personnel from the industrial sector, progressive farmers and representatives of private companies, NGOs and members of FPOs, are attending the programme. The training brings together eminent resource persons covering a comprehensive range of themes such as geo-spatial technologies, reclamation and management of salt-affected soils, climate-resilient and alternative land-use strategies, crop tolerance under multiple stresses and policy as well as socio-economic dimensions essential for sustainable land management in salt-affected ecosystems.

Dr RK Yadav, Director, ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal, inaugurated the programme as the chief guest. In his inaugural address, he expressed concern over the increasing trend of land degradation and highlighted the pivotal role of CSSRI in developing innovative, farmer-centric solutions for managing salt-affected lands. He urged participants to make the best use of the training and apply the acquired knowledge effectively in the field.