FAO's World Soil Day Award to ICAR

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR) bagged the prestigious ‘International King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award’ from the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)

About International King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award

It aims to honor and encourage organizers of WSD events at all levels.
The 6th GSP Plenary Assembly endorsed the establishment of the annual King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award (WSDA), as a recognition tool for individuals and/or institutions that have made an effort to organize successful celebrations.
The objective of the WSDA is to encourage organizers of WSD events at all levels to facilitate challenging and outstanding celebrations around the globe.
The Award is sponsored by the Kingdom of Thailand, the champion country in the establishment of the now-famous World Soil Day.
The award consists of a medal, a USD 15 000 check and a trip to Thailand.
The UN General Assembly decided in December 2013 to officially designate 5 December as World Soil Day to acknowledge the lifelong work and commitment of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand who has significantly contributed to improving the quality of lives of millions through sustainable soil management.
ICAR bagged the award for raising awareness about the importance of soil health among all stakeholders.
The award was conferred to ICAR for its commitment to raising awareness of the importance of healthy soils. Particularly during last year’s World Soil Day celebration, which addressed soil erosion under the motto “Stop soil erosion, save our future”.
The award was conferred to ICAR on the occasion of World Soil Day, celebrated on December 5, through a virtual function

About the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

ICAR is an autonomous organization under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Formerly known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in pursuance of the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture.
The ICAR has its headquarters at New Delhi.
The Council is the apex body for co-ordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
With 101 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.
The ICAR has played a pioneering role in ushering Green Revolution and subsequent developments in agriculture in India through its research and technology development;
- It has enabled the country to increase the production of foodgrains by 5.6 times, horticultural crops by 10.5 times, fish by 16.8 times, milk by 10.4 times and eggs by 52.9 times since 1950-51 to 2017-18, thus making a visible impact on the national food and nutritional security.
It has played a major role in promoting excellence in higher education in agriculture.
It is engaged in cutting edge areas of science and technology development and its scientists are internationally acknowledged in their fields.