The Earth Day-2024 was celebrated at Faculty of Agriculture SKUAST-K wadura in collaboration with Association of Agro-meteorologists, (Kashmir Chapter) and sponsored by Ministry of Earth Science, Govt. of India on April 22, 2024.. The Earth Day-2024 theme “Planet vs. Plastics”, aims to increase public awareness about the detrimental effects that plastic pollution has on both human & environmental health.The theme unites students, parents, businesses, governments, unions, individuals, and NGOs in an unwavering commitment to call for the end of plastics for the sake of human and planetary health and demands 60 per cent reduction in the production of plastics by 2040 with an ultimate goal of building a plastic-free future for generations to come. To achieve a 60 per cent reduction by 2040, the goals are: 1) promoting widespread public awareness of the damage done by plastic to human, animal, and all biodiversity’s health and demanding more research be conducted on its health implications, including the release of all information regarding its effects to the public; 2) rapidly phasing out all single-use plastics by 2030 and achieving this phase out commitment in the United Nations Treaty on Plastic Pollution in 2024; 3) demanding policies ending the scourge of fast fashion and the vast amount of plastic it produces and uses; and 4) investing in innovative technologies and materials to build a plastic-free world.
Prof. Raihana H. Kanth, Dean Faculty of Agriculture Welcomed the guests and highlighted the theme thataims to reduce plastic dependency and make the earth plastic-free. Prof.Rafiq A. Shahardar, Dean Students Welfare, SKUAST-K, who was the Guest of Honour, saidthat plastic is everywhere in our lives. There is plastics in the food we eat, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe. But this needs to be change, and we can all be part of the solution by reducing our own plastic footprint, we can contribute to a cleaner & healthier world, the power is in our hands.
The Chief Guestof this programme Prof. Nazir Ahmad. Ganai, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kwhile interacting with the students and scientists said that tackling the plastic waste crisis is a key environmental challenge of our time. Though use of plastics is inevitable in the agriculture, they are used for mulching, irrigation pipes, silage covering, crop protection, post-harvesting operations, packaging materials for seed and fertilizers, etc. A large amount of plastic is used for nets and coverings to protect crops from adversative weather conditions, insects, and animals. It is high time to tackle the mismanaged plastics rather than them being tangled in the environment and, at the same time, ensure possible waste to energy and waste to products conversion. Hon’ble Vice Chancellor precisely described major initiatives undertaken by the government to combat plastic pollution including, a ban on single-use plastics, plastic waste management rules, SwachhBharatAbhiyan, and the promotion of alternatives. The event also featuredplantation drive, cleanliness drive, elocution, painting and photography competitions. The winners of the competitions were later felicitated by the Chief Guest with certificates and prizes. The Chief Guest also felicitated the students with certificates for publishing their research work in high impact factor international Journals. The programme was attended by Prof. Haroon R. Naik, Director Research, SKUAST-K, Prof. Junaid N. Khan, Estates Officer, SKUAST-K, Prof. K..A.Sahaf, Assoc. Dean CoTS, SKUAST-K, heads of various divisions, faculty members and more than 500 UG/PG students of the faculty & students & teachers of nearby schools. The Programme ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Aijaz A. Qureshi, Students Welfare Officer.