The Sustainability Dialogues by Dr. Parveen Kumar

  NATIONAL FARMERS' DAY 2022: DEC. 23 A famous quote of Thomas Jefferson says that ‘Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.’ It is the farmer that contributes maximum towards this pursuit. Today, the country is witnessing a phenomenal increase in food grains production; the agricultural output at present has surpassed all previous records and all this we owe it to the hard work of our farming community that works day and night; be it the intense heat or spine chilling cold. Their contribution is unparallel. Although the contribution of agriculture sector in the GDP has come down from 50 percent in the years immediately after independence to about 17 percent at present; it in no way means that the contribution of farming community has also decreased. It is their hard work that ensures food and nutritional security for all of us.             Life...

Being placed at the helm of affairs of G20, India has got a unique opportunity to contribute to the global agenda on pressing issues of international importance. Hon’ble Primeminister Sh. Narendra Modi had rightly said that for India the G-20 in 2023 will not only be about diplomatic meetings, but it will provide us with the opportunity to showcase our developmental strides aimed at furthering global good. India has also invited Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the UAE as guest countries for the summit in 2023. The throne is not without thorns. As India assumes G20 Presidency, there are daunting challenges ahead of it. It has been rightly said that Indian G20 priorities are inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth, women’s empowerment, digital public infrastructure and tech-enabled development, climate financing, energy security, food security and others. India has to lead from the front. The global economy is already in doldrums pos...

WORLD SOIL DAY: DEC. 05  Unlike other  natural resources , the degradation of soil is something that does not come to notice easily by the inexperienced eye. It is a slow, silent process, which takes its sweet time, but the effects can be disastrous. Destruction and loss of acres of land or soil can happen due to carelessness. Without soil, the  ever-growing population  will remain underfed since plants won’t have any space to grow. Considering the importance of Soil, t he International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002 adopted a resolution proposing that December 05 be celebrated as the World Soil Day to recognize the importance of Soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contribution to human well being. As a consequence to the resolution of the IUSS, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in June 2013 at its 68 th General Assembly unanimously declared Dec 5 to be celebrated as World Soil Day every year. The date ...

    AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION DAY: DEC. 03 QUALITATIVE AS WELL AS QUANTITATIVE EXPANSION               Agricultural Education Day celebrated every year on Dec.03 commemorates with the birth anniversary of first President of Independent India and Union Minister of Agriculture, ' Bharat Ratna' , Dr. Rajendra Prasad . The day remembers and acknowledges his contributions in development of agriculture education in India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) decided to celebrate Dec. 03 as Agriculture Education Day to further the interests of the youth in this ancestral and noble profession, to choose 'agriculture' as their professional career, to motivate them to pursue research in agricultural and allied sciences and to become successful agri-preneurs by establishing their own income generating units. Dr. Rajendra Prasad : The country’s first president was born in the Bengal Presidency of India on Dece...