Healthy soil is a living system capable of functioning properly to support plant and animal productivity, maintain water and air quality, and promote the health of plants, animals, and humans.
DODOMA. TO celebrate this year’s World Soil Day, the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has conducted a special training clinic to impart secondary school students in Dodoma region with necessary awareness on the soil health sector.
Being a brainchild of TARI headquarters, implementation of the one- day clinic held at the famous Dodoma Secondary School received cooperations from an array of like- minded institutions.
The institutions include the Tanzania Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA), the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) and the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI).
The clinic involved both, theoretical and practical training, and it went in tandem with a tree planting campaign whereby a number of fruit trees were distributed and planted at the state- owned secondary school mapped at the heart of Dodoma Capital City.
Principal Agriculture Officer from TARI Uyole Center, Mr. Watson Matamwa was a chief facilitator of the training.
He trained the students over the meaning and advantages of healthy soil together with the necessary procedures on attaining and preserving healthy soil.
Principal Agriculture Officer from TARI Uyole Center, Mr. Watson Matamwa trains the students on soil health
The soil health- based agricultural pundits, Mr. Matamwa told the students that healthy soil is a living system capable of functioning properly to support plant and animal productivity, maintain water and air quality, and promote the health of plants, animals, and humans.
” Healthy soil is created by containing a diverse community of microorganisms, minerals, and organic matter, which are all essential for its biological, physical, and chemical characteristics. A key aspect of healthy soil is its “continued capacity” to sustain these functions over time,” Mr. Matamwa stated.
He added, the country’s food security (food adequacy), environmental development and economical development, as well as flourishing of human life highly depend on the presence of healthy soil.
“The students, as the future generation must stand at the forefront as good ambassadors to advocate for soil health preservation across the country,” he emphasized.
He challenged the students to opt to study soil health courses in their future learning pursuit so as to bolster Tanzania’s concerted efforts in advancing the performance of the vital sector.
Mr. Musa Yusuph Chakulanga, a teacher at the Dodoma Secondary School, hailed TARI for organizing the meaningful event in cooperation with the other institutions that were involved.
“To a greater extent, this training will automatically give us a fresh impetus to embark on a tree planting campaign around our premises, especially the fruit trees,” he appreciated.
He added that the move will also supplement the performance of the student’s environment club at the learning facility, as well as adding up their knowledge to relevant subjects, which include geography.
Eva William Karoli, a form three student at Dodoma Secondary School
Eva William Karoli, a form three student at the school expressed delight for the professional manner to which the training clinic has helped to impart them with key knowledge on tree planting and soil health.
On his side, Petro Enock Mathias, the other student at the school said he will use the skills and knowledge acquired to educate others over the importance of soil health preservation, saying he will himself continue to plant a variety of trees at his home areas.
Observed at the national level in Dodoma Capital City, this year’s World Soil Day is celebrated under the theme of “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.”
To mark the day, a series of activities have been taking place under the organisation of the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI).
The activities include a special forum which attracted experienced soil health researchers from numerous agricultural institutions, universities and students.
The forum, organised at the NaneNane grounds, in the outskirts of the Dodoma Capital City created a potential podium for vital debates with an eye to develop performance of the soil health sector in Tanzania.
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