Held at Alliance Francaise De Banjul, the event seeks to raise awareness about the critical role soil plays in food security, climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
Launched in 2019, the registered, non-governmental organisation (NGO), seeks to amplify advocacy geared toward protecting the country’s soil to support plants with adequate nutrients and water supply.
Thus, this year’s event held on the theme- “Caring for soil: Measure, Monitor and manage,’ drew local farmers, environmentalists, students and a cross section of the public.
In his opening remarks, Mustapha Ceesay, Admin officer Soil Solution The Gambia, underscored the importance of sustainable land management and soil restoration in the fight against land degradation and climate change.
He observed that despite the immeasurable importance of soil yet it continues to face significant threats from degradation and erosion to pollution and unsustainable land use.
“At the Soil Solution, we believe that safeguarding soil health is not only an environmental imperative, but also a pathway to unlocking social and economic opportunities.”
Ceesay described the theme of this year’s event as quite apt as effective soil care begins with greater understanding and by measuring soil health, they can monitor changes and implement practices to manage it responsibly.
“These steps are not just technical solutions, they are part of a broader mission to ensure soil resilience in the face of climate change, population growth, and food insecurity. As we reflect on this year's theme, I urge all of us to consider our role in advocating for policies, technologies, and practices that prioritise soil health.”
For his part, Ebrima Touray, Principal Soil and Water Management Officer at Soil and Water Management Services, Department of Agriculture, reminded that the day is an international event which is set aside annually to create awareness on the importance of soil, soil information, the management and value of the soil.
He explained that some farmers have been trained on how to monitor, measure and manage soil, adding that they have a project called Soil Fertility Mapping Project, which is being funded by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Bai Ebrima Nyan, a cereal farmer from Nuimi in the North Bank Region, lauded the initiative aimed at raising awareness about soil management.
"After attending the capacity-building training on soil management and analysis for cereal production, I've seen a significant improvement in my farm's output. The training has not only improved my farming practices but also helped me save costs and boost productivity."
