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DUT COMMUNITY ENCOURAGED TO SAVE SOIL

DUT COMMUNITY ENCOURAGED TO SAVE SOIL

To encourage the Durban University of Technology (DUT) community to save soil, DUT officially launched the Save Soil Movement at the Horticulture Gardens, Ritson campus on Friday, 28 October 2022.

The theme of the event was: It all starts with a simple initiative to save soil. How can universities (staff and students) contribute to this cause? The first 60 people to arrive at the event received the Save Soil T-shirts and were encouraged to join the movement. A tree was planted to commemorate the commencement of the Save Soil movement at DUT. Guests were given seedlings to take home to encourage them to save soil and save our planet. DUT Save Soil intends on hosting a Save Soil Launch in 2023 at Indumiso campus as well as intends other initiatives i.e. roof top gardens, garden on Ritson campus and currently investigating the possibility of DUT hosting (along with MUT) an international save soil conference at DUT.

Facilitating the event was Dr Mal Reddy, DUT Save Soil Steering Committee member who began by handing over to her colleague, Ms Nirupa “Nikki” Kemraj for the opening prayer.

After the prayer, Dr Reddy thanked Kemraj for the words of wisdom and encouragement. She pleaded with the guests to help them to make bigger the circle of #SaveSoil bigger. The guests included experts, professionals and those within the field relevant to the Save Soil Movement.

Delivering the opening and welcome remarks was Dt Ignatius Matimati, Head: Horticulture department at the DUT. He began by explaining that the soil has got components that are biotic, so it is a living entity and also non-living material.

“On a day to day basis, there are lot of pressures that soil is exacted to, Durban has just had floods, just try and envision what happened to the soil. Some are

some trees are being cut, cleared to pave way for agriculture. Some are into construction; all these are pressures that are exacted to the soil. 95% of antibiotics comes from the soil. Another statistic is that 95% of the food that we consume is linked to the soil. The soil has evolved together with life and these cannot be separated,” said Dr Matimati.

Explaining the reason behind worrying about the soil now, Dr Matimati said it is because the soil is at great risk, there is a lot that is happening, that people need to be aware of. He indicated that the #Save Soil Movement is relevant at this time, looking at what is happening to the climate.

“Just looking at what we have now. If we are to maintain the same quality of soil for future generations, there is a need for us to change how we are using the resources, how we are managing the soil, hence the need to save the soil. 30% of the soil is what is supporting 87% of the life on earth. You cannot ignore what is happening to the soul because it is not only for us but for future generations to come. Something has to be done, it starts with you,” he added.

Furthermore, Dr Matimati indicated that the type of soil we will have in the future, will be determined by the individual’s actions and influence on the community to save the soil.

Kemraj took to the stage to Introduce the Chair of Panel, Professor Roger Coopoosamy who is the Acting Dean of Natural Sciences at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). He said people need to bring back what they have taken away from the soil, which is the enjoyment of playing in that soil. He revealed that more people are now not comfortable of letting their kids play in the soil.

He further introduced the panel members, who were Dr Tanya Dayaram from the DUT Urban Futures Centre and Professor K Naidoo from the Faculty of Natural Sciences at MUT.

The panellists held interesting discussion on the importance of saving soil, how does soil degradation affected everyone and how universities can join the movement and push for change.

After the robust discussions, DUT’s Dr Pravita Pillay gave a brief synopsis of the panel discussion. She thanked the panellists for the interesting discussions on this good initiative of saving soil. She then posed questions to the students to check if they all listened and paid attention during the panel discussions.

DUT staff member, Dr Prinavin Govender was awarded a prize for sending the most innovative video as a build up to the Save Soil launch. He obtained a gift of his choice from the DUT Stores. Three students, Ms Kiara Harilall, Ms Keron Maharaj and Sidal Govender were also recognised for their outstanding video in the competition.

Delivering the vote of thanks was Ms Hazel Govender from Horticulture, who thanked all the esteemed speakers, organisers and students and staff for working together in making sure that the launch becomes a success.

The Save Soil Movement will also be launched at the DUT Midlands campus early next year, 2023, staff and students from Midlands were urged to be on the lookout for this launch so they can also be able to join the movement.

Pictured: The esteemed presenters after planting a tree in commemoration of #Save Soil Movement.

Simangele Zuma

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