Experts urge shift to regenerative farming

National and international experts have cautioned that Pakistan's soil health is deteriorating at an alarming pace due to excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, stressing the urgent need for regenerative agriculture, biodiversity restoration, and compost-based solutions to secure sustainable farming for future generations.

The warning came during a seminar marking "Soil Health Week 2025" under the theme "Regenerative Sindh — Farming for Tomorrow", organized by the Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Crop Production at Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam in collaboration with TrashIt.

SAU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal said farmers must change their approach, as constant reliance on chemical inputs and the pursuit of higher yields are depleting the productive capacity of agricultural land. "Pakistan spends billions of dollars annually on chemical inputs. It is imperative to shift farmers towards eco-friendly, compost-based and natural soil solutions," he stressed.

Delivering the keynote, UK-based regenerative farming expert Nick Padwick presented findings from 400 soil samples in Pakistan, showing high bacterial dominance but dangerously low levels of fungi, protozoa and nematodes. "This imbalance weakens soil structure, limits nutrient uptake and reduces water infiltration," he said, recommending the use of vermicompost and organic matter to restore soil fertility and improve water efficiency in Sindh, where water scarcity and salinity are pressing challenges.