Baripada, Dec 05 (first news odisha) District-level World Soil Day was observed at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Shamakhunta, Baripada, jointly organized by the District Agriculture Department and the Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Shamakhunta and Jashipur, under the chairmanship of Additional District Magistrate Dukhbandhu Nayak. District Chief Agriculture Officer Lokanath Mishra delivered the welcome address. District Council Chairperson Bharati Hansda attended as the chief guest, along with Zilla Parishad Member of Zone 49 Madhusudan Singh, Bangiriposi ADO Saubhagya Kumar Mahanti, and District Public Relations Officer Bikash Ranjan Mahanti, who participated as honored guests. They emphasized that reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and avoiding plastic in agriculture are essential steps for improving soil fertility. On this occasion, Soil Health Cards were distributed to 100 farmers from 10 blocks of the district who performed well in soil testing. During the technical session, scientist Dr. Jyoti Prakash Mishra trained the participating farmers on soil fertility and advancements in agriculture. Senior scientist Sanghamitra Pattanaik conducted the proceedings, while Dr. Deepak Kumar Mahanti, Senior Scientist of KVK Jashipur, offered the vote of thanks. ADA Archana Bala of the Soil Chemistry Department, Assistant Agriculture Officers Madhusmita Jena and Romeo Ranjan Mahant, along with staff members of KVK Shamakhunta and the Soil Chemistry Department, Baripada, assisted in organizing the program.