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Ludhiana, 27 May 2026: ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (ICAR-IIMR), Ludhiana, in collaboration with the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), IFDC, and Save Soil movement, organized a regional consultation workshop on "Bharat Soil Health Policy (BSHP)" for North and North-West India on 27 May 2026. The consultation is part of a national effort to develop a comprehensive policy framework for protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing India's soils as a strategic national resource critical to food security, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and farmer livelihoods.
Chief Guest, Dr A.K. Nayak, DDG (NRM), ICAR, emphasized that soil health is the foundation of sustainable agriculture, environmental security, and national food security, and called for integrated nutrient management, regenerative agriculture, and multi-stakeholder partnerships for long-term sustainability. Dr Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director, ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana reaffirmed the institute's commitment to advancing soil health through science-led interventions and collaborative efforts.
BSHP Core Group Members Dr A.K. Singh, Former Vice Chancellor, RVSKVV and Dr B.S. Dwivedi, Former Member, ASRB, stressed integrating scientific knowledge with policy frameworks and adopting farmer-centric approaches for effective implementation. Eminent speakers including Dr M. Mohanty, Director, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal called for scientific soil assessment and evidence-based interventions to improve soil productivity and resilience. Dr R.S. Grewal, Director Extension, GADVASU, and Dr Parvender Sheoran, Director, ICAR-ATARI, underlined the need for robust extension systems and stronger research–extension–farmer linkages for sustainable agricultural transformation.
The Bharat Soil Health Policy is being jointly developed by ICAR, TAAS, IFDC, and Save Soil movement to create a long-term roadmap for improving soil health governance, promoting regenerative agricultural practices, and strengthening sustainable land management systems across India. The inaugural session featured context-setting by Dr Yash Saharawat, IFDC, who outlined the vision, objectives, and policy framework, while Dr Praveena Shridhar, Save Soil, emphasized the role of awareness generation and collaborative action in advancing soil conservation and regenerative agriculture.
Workshop sessions addressed key themes including soil health challenges, traditional knowledge systems, policy alignment, scientific priorities, soil data systems, innovation pathways, incentive mechanisms, and scaling of sustainable practices. Breakout discussions explored policy implementation, farmer incentives, carbon markets, institutional partnerships, and investment opportunities for improving soil health at scale.
The workshop concluded with concrete recommendations and actionable strategies to strengthen India's soil health management frameworks with special reference to north and North west India. The consultation served as a vital multi-stakeholder platform, bringing together representatives from ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, government departments, farmer organizations, agri-industry, and academia to collectively shape the future direction of the Bharat Soil Health Policy and its effective implementation.
