WORLD SOIL DAY

Recognizing the serious dangers on the soil resources in the World, the International Union of
Soil Sciences (IUSS) and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) initiated
awareness raising campaigns against soil degradation at Global, Regional, National and Local
levels in 2002.

Subsequently, the IUSS adopted a resolution proposing the 5th of December as World Soil Day
to celebrate the importance of soil in human life. The Food and Agricultural organization (FAO)
of the United Nations supported the formal establishment of World Soil Day primarily as a
global awareness raising platform.

In June 2013, FAO conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day and advocated for its
official adoption by United Nations (UN). In December 2013, the 68th UN General Assembly
declared 5th December as the World Soil Day.

Since 2014, the World Soil Day has been commemorated with a different theme each year. In
2015, the theme was “Healthy Soils for Healthy Life “. In 2016, it was “Soils and Pulses:
Symbiosis for Life”. In 2017, it was “Caring for the Planet starts from the Ground”. In
2018, it was “Be the Solution to Soil Pollution”. In 2019 it was “Stop Soil Erosion, save our
Future”. In 2020 it was “Keep soil alive, Protect the biodiversity.” In 2021 it was “Halt soil
salinization, boost soil productivity.” This year 2022 it is “Soils: where food begins.”

Despite the capacity of soils to provide these services, however, the resource is being severely
eroded due to rampant degradation. It is estimated that over 33% of the soils are degraded
globally. Consequently, over 820 million people are food insecure and 2 billion (26% of the
world population) are affected by malnutrition.

Africa is endowed with vast arable land compared to other continents. However, due to
diminishing soil productivity, her Agricultural Domestic Product lies between 2% to 3% only.
Such a scenario compelled African Heads of State to ascend to the Abuja Declaration in 2006.
The Abuja summit called on individual countries to increase fertilizer use from 8 to 50kg per
hectare per year.

Uganda’s soils have always been taken for granted, yet the country has some of the oldest and
highly weathered soils whose productivity is low. Farmers’ yields are far below potential
compared to research stations. Areas like Rakai, Kayunga, Iganga, Bugiri, Tororo, kumi have
been observed to be producing with Negative Nutrient Balances. Continued cultivation of such
soils without fertility enhancing technologies does not guarantee sustainability of agricultural
production.

Some Districts in Eastern Uganda are infested by Striga (Kayongo in Lusoga). This notorious
invasive weed is an indicator of low soil fertility. Besides fertility decline, Soil degradation in
Uganda is also being experienced through Soil Erosion, Excessive Compaction, Acidification
and Salinization.

The aim of cerebration is to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems
and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management. This theme
comes at a time when soil pollution in Uganda is getting severe in many parts of the country. Use
of Plastics in Uganda ranging between 300-1000 gauge polypots and polysheet, nylon fiber nets,
plastic bottles and carry bags is a problem with no proper and well organized disposal
mechanisms all end up in soil and water bodies as a sink.

Agro chemicals on especially floriculture and horticulture industry is critical especially those
grown in wetland thus polluting water bodies and soil Fertiliser use although estimated to be low has increased of late.
This year’s theme reminds us of our noble responsibility to protect the soil from the major causes
of degradation-Soil pollution. Remember ‘’soil is wealth and therefore a need to judicious
protect it’’
Albertine Interventions for Development (AID) is committed to reversing soil degradation in
order to achieve sustainable agricultural production. Through my Ministry, Government
approved the National Fertilizer Policy (2016) and the National Organic Policy (2019) to provide
direction to Agricultural productivity improvement through use of fertility enhancing
technologies from Inorganic and organic sources, as well as soil management.

The government of Uganda has also attracted many investments in fertilizer manufacturing and
blending such as Guanzhou Dongsong Energy Group at Sukuru in Tororo and Grain Pulse at
Rwanyonyi in Mukono. I appeal to all farmers and users of soil to take advantage of the enabling
environment established by government to manage and utilize our soils for posterity.

Collaborative efforts with our partners have delivered on proven sustainable land management
practices and Climate Smart Agricultural Practices. Plans are underway to scale up the identified
best practices in soil and water conservation and fertility management. More awareness
programs on the proper use of our soils are required from both Government and NonGovernment actors.

As an organization, we continue to appreciate the work of Soil Scientists at Makerere University
and other Universities for inventing a soil testing kit which can be used to rapidly determine the
fertility status of a given soil. Such Innovations need to be scaled up and popularized among
farmers.