More than 90% of the planet’s genetic biodiversity is found in soils. A gram of soil can contain as many as 10,000 different species. The various micro organisms in the soil are capable of fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere, make other nutrients accessible to the plants and also improve the physical structure of the soil. However, with agriculture becoming commercialized, farmers have shifted to high chemical agriculture, depriving soils of organic matter on which the soil life thrives. Today, soil remains lifeless. But even today, amidst commercialization, we still find farmers who adopt alternative agriculture practices, preserving soil health. This issue of LEISA India includes a number of such initiatives. While we celebrate the International Year of Soils 2015, hope these experiences inspire many others to think and act differently.
N Venkatesan
J Elango and V M Karunagaran
Mulching – Harvesting many benefits in cardomom
S Varadarasan and P Vivekanandan
Making dry farming the second front of agriculture development
R Dwarakinath
Participatory soil health restoration
Anirudhha Das and Purnabha Dasgupta
“Healthy soils give family farmers autonomy, resilience and long-term productivity”
Janneke Bruil
Creating a healthy living soil to feed millions with safe food
Deepak Suchde and Om P Rupela
Revival of soil fertility in Vidarbha region
Priti Joshi
Sheep Penning – Need to sustain this unique practice
B Sriveda and B Srihitha
Restoring our soils by learning from history
Roland Bunch
Sujata Goel
Soil health – Key to improved yields
Purshottam Jangid, Monu K Rathore Ranveer, S Shaktawat and V Khatana
Rural Reality Show – An innovative approach to spread good practices
Shweta Prajapati and Gazala Shaikh
