Soil Health, Plant Health and Human Health Cannot Be Separated-NIPHM DG

Soil Health, Plant Health and Human Health Cannot Be Separated, Says NIPHM DG

Sagar Hanuman Singh, Director-General of the National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), has emphasized the need for a formal national soil health framework, similar to the soil health policies in Europe and the US.

“Chemical agriculture has caused significant damage to soil. Plant health and human health cannot be separated. We now need a national soil health policy, guidelines, and rejuvenation programs on a large scale,” he said.

Addressing BioAgri 2025 in Hyderabad on Wednesday, he pointed out that the overuse of pesticides was rendering several crops, including Telangana’s chillies, unsuitable for export. He urged immediate action to ensure that India’s agricultural produce remains residue-free and export-ready.

V. Praveen Rao, Vice-Chancellor of Kaveri University, stressed that collaboration between public institutions and the biological industry must become central to the agricultural transition.

John Peter, President of the BioAgri Input Producers Association (BIPA), reminded attendees that biological agriculture is not new to India. “We practiced biological agriculture eight decades ago. Then came the chemical phase. Now we need to reverse the trend and reclaim our biological heritage,” he said.

“We are exploring overseas expansion, starting with Sri Lanka, and have signed an MoU with Kaveri Agri University for skill development,” said Venkatesh Devanur, Secretary-General of BIPA, in a statement on Wednesday.

BIPA represents over 100 industry members, supporting innovation, regulation, quality frameworks, and policy advocacy in biological agriculture.

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The conference, themed “Nurturing Nature, Nourishing the Future,” brought together more than 200 delegates and featured over 40 exhibition stalls showcasing cutting-edge biological technologies. The two-day event included sessions and discussions on biologicals, biotechnology innovations, climate resilience, regulatory developments, and emerging market trends in sustainable agriculture.