Item 3: Current initiatives, new proposals and next steps of 5 pillars of action
Pillar 2. Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education, awareness and extension in soil
• Implementation of the Global Soil Doctors programme
Dr. Munir Zia, Pillar 2 Chair
1. Implementation of the the
Global Soil Doctors
Programme - ASIA
GSP Secretariat
Munir Zia
Chair, ASP Pillar 2
2. The Global Soil Doctors
programme
•Farmer-to-farmer training
programme aimed at:
• Building the capacity of farmers on
soils and sustainable soil
management;
• Supporting governmental agencies
and organizations working on
agricultural extension in the field.
• Creating a Global network on Soil
extension tools.
Champion farmers once identified (Soil Doctors) would play a key role in program
3. How would it work? – Pakistan
Identification of private sector fertilizer
companies which run agric extension program
- thru International Fertilizer Association (IFA)
Advantages:
• Better mobility compared to Government
Extension Departments
• Working on All crops rather than a single crop
• The interesting players are NOT expected to
ask for financial support except that for the
printed matter and other material
• Response would be quick compared to the
Govt Departments
4. How would it work? – Pakistan
Identification of private sector fertilizer companies
which run agric extension program - thru
International Fertilizer Association (IFA)
Proposed Working Methodology:
• Initial training would be required to broaden their
focus on soil physical and biological properties
rather than chemical alone
• Each participant company would bring up its own
implementation story
• Provision of soil test kits to Lead Farmers -at later
stage
• National Focal persons will also be involved to
identify/introduce the program to other
interested players in case no fertilizer company
exists in a specific country
5. Way forward – Regional Approach
• It is suggested that Global Soil Doctors
Program not to be implemented in
uniformity at Regional Scale immediately
RATHER
• National Success Stories be shared in ASP
Meetings to find a common ground for
implementation across Asia, if feasible
• Translation of the success story in local
languages
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