Venue: Kheri Mansingh Village, Dehradun
World Soil Day was celebrated through the NMHS-supported Farmers' Meeting and Awareness Programme organized at Kheri Mansingh Village, Dehradun, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Government of Uttarakhand on 05-12-2025. The event aimed to promote soil health awareness, sustainable land management practices, and community-level engagement for environmental preservation.
The University's NMHS project team— Principal Investigator Dr. Durgesh Kumar Jaiswal, Co-Principal Investigators Dr. Prabhakar Semwal and Dr. Vishal Tripathi, along with student researchers Ms. Ridhima Gaur and Mr. Divyansh, actively led the outreach initiative as part of the ongoing project titled "Sustainable Utilization of Invasive Plant Biomass for Bioactive Component Recovery and Biochar Generation: A Unique Solution for Improving Rural Livelihoods in Uttarakhand."
Schedule of the event and participating departments for World Soil Day at Kheri Mansingh Village, Dehradun:
- Department of Agriculture, Uttarakhand
- Department of Horticulture, Uttarakhand
- Department of Animal Husbandry, Uttarakhand
- District Level Soil Testing Laboratory - Agriculture Department
- Kshema General Insurance Limited, Dehradun
- Department of Biosciences & Biotechnology, Graphic Era University, Dehradun
- Village Pradhan, Kheri Mansingh Village
During the interaction, Dr. Jaiswal sensitized farmers to the growing threats posed by Invasive Alien Plants (lAPs), highlighting their adverse effects on soil fertility, crop productivity, and ecological stability. He showcased the University's innovative NMHS-funded research that transforms invasive plant biomass into valuable products such as bioactive compounds and biochar, creating opportunities for income generation while restoring soil health. The programme saw the valuable presence of the Chief Agriculture Officer of Dehradun, the Chief Horticulture Officer, the District Soil Testing Lab In-charge, and the Village Pradhan, who engaged with farmers and reinforced the importance of sustainable agricultural practices.
Through this outreach activity, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) reaffirmed its commitment to promoting sustainable resource utilization, enhancing soil quality, and contributing to rural livelihood improvement across Uttarakhand. The initiative reflects the University's dedication to advancing scientific solutions for environmental challenges and supporting the well-being of Himalayan farming communities in alignment with the global vision of World Soil Day.
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