Organization Details:
Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI)
Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) from its inception in the form of Soil Survey Project of Pakistan (East Wing) in 1961, today at the dawn of new millenium stands on a skill group of natural resource manager. In 1969, Central Soil Research Institute was established as follow up of the Soil Survey Project. After the independence of Bangladesh, Department of Soil Survey was established in 1972 under the Ministry of Agriculture. This organization is the pioneer of assessing land and soil resources of the country through Reconnaissance Soil Survey (RSS) following USDA methodology. The survey was started in 1965 and ended in 1975 with an outcome of 33 volumes of reports. These reports could only be used at district or regional level national resource planning. Afterwards, the department has undertaken detailed and semi-detailed soil survey, special survey of irrigation projects, explanatory soil guide and manual to ensure rational use of soil resource in the country.
In 1983 Soil Resource Development Institute was established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest by reorganizing the then Department of Soil Survey. From 1986 onwards through successful completion of various projects the activities of the institute increased manifold. It is now prepared to face the challenge of future to make a breakthrough in crop production through improved soil management in Bangladesh, though SRDI still has an imbalance organogram.
Name of the Program: Strengthening of Fertilizer Quality Assessment Laboratory
Program Director: Mr. Dr. Md. Taiabur Rahman
Project duration: July 2007 to June 2010
Name of the Program: Strengthening of Farmers Services Through Soil Analysis in Static Laboratories
Program Director: Mr. Md. Mofazzal Haque
Program duration: July 2007 to June 2010
Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories (MSTL):
The programme of Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories (MSTL) started in Bangladesh in 1996 with 2 (two) MSTL named as ‘Padma’ and ‘Meghna’ under the Project of “Soil Testing Management & Development of SRDI” to serve the farmers reaching at the door of them. Four MSTL again procured and now running in SRDI named as Tista, Jamuna, Titas and Rupsha under different laboratories.
1. The mandates of the Institute are as follows (The Bangladesh Gazette, Extra, Oct. 9, 1983):
2. Inventories and survey of soil and land resources.
3. Interpretation and analysis of soil and land resource data (demand driven applied research).
4. Advice and service related to soil.
5. Farmers’ service.
6. Analysis of soil, water, plant, fertilizer and heavy metal including Arsenic.
7. Quality control of soil analytical services done by laboratories of GO/NGOs.
The functions of the Soil Resource Development Institute are as follows:
- Reconnaissance Soil Survey of the whole country on the basis of aerial photo interpretation and field and laboratory investigation of soils;
b) Detailed/Semi-detailed soil surveys of development project areas and research farms for various beneficiary agencies; - Soil surveys to evaluate irrigation command areas and cropping potentials;
- Soil surveys for locating areas of problem soils (e.g., toxic, saline, alkaline or
peat soils),soil degradation and erosion (in watershed region) for planning reclamation or watershed management; - Correlation of soils conducted under various surveys;
- Chemical analysis of soil, water and plant samples to verify and clarify the field observation;
- Analysis of chemical and organic fertilizers to ensure the quality of fertilizers as backup for policy makers;
- Physical and mineralogical and microbial analysis of soils of the country;
- Interpretation of aerial photos, land sat imageries and topographic maps for soil and land use surveys;
- Preparation of various maps and reports on the above-mentioned surveys for publication;
- Services to the development agencies by providing basic data on soils, land capability and crop suitability for preparation of both short and long-term agricultural development plans;
- Coordination with the beneficiary agencies at local, regional or national levels regarding planning and execution of land use development progrmmes;
- Provision of simplified guides on soils and agricultural development possibilities for each Upazila for agricultural extension and research workers;
- Provision of soil data for planning irrigation, drainage and reclamation projects;
- Selection of suitable sites for specific research/development activities;
- Imparting in-service training to the newly recruited technical officers on soil survey, land use planning, cropping potential, etc. and refreshers training to keep the technical officers of the department apprised and acquainted with the up-to date knowledge;
- Training of agricultural extension and research workers of various levels on proper utilization of soil survey information. Imparting basic training on various aspects of soils to the students of the agricultural institutions. (Source: Gazette Notification, October, 1983);
- Render services to farmers and others by analyzing soil, plant, water and fertilizer samples and recommend location specific fertilizer doses on the basis of soil testing and crop requirements;
- Assist in introducing and executing the ‘Soil Health Card Programme’ proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture;
- Provide assistance in regular monitoring of soil fertility and land productivity activities throughout the country;
- Study the soil moisture characteristics in the laboratory to ascertain irrigation needs of different crops;
- Launch a regular programme for the training of field level extension workers regarding soil analytical results, ‘Soil Health Card Programme’, Use of Upazila Guide for the recommendation of fertilizers on the basis of soil analytical data;
- Investigate soil fertility degradation problem, nutrient related problems of crops, soil moisture stress and constraints in crop production etc.
- Inventing of soil information to manage cultivation and sustain fertility of soil and productivity of crop.
- Soil conservation by managing hilly and saline soils.
Divisions:
1. Development Division
Development division headed by Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and consists of 4 (four) Regional offices viz. Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna Regional Office headed by Principal Scientific Officer (PSO). There are 5 (five) District offices headed by Senior Scientific Officer (SSO) under every Regional Office.
Functions:
Planning, Co-ordination and supervision of all technical programmes and activities of the Regional and District Offices under Development Division. Review and/or editing of all technical reports prepared by regional/District offices under the Division. Co-ordination with allied Government/Autonomous/other agencies in national programme on agricultural development, e.g. ITAP, IRCP, Thana Land Use Development Planning, etc.
Regional Office:
Overall planning, co-ordination and supervision of the technical and administrative affairs of the Regional and District offices. Responsible for progress of work of respective Regional and District offices. Co-ordination with the beneficiary agencies like Directorate of Agriculture Extension (DAE), BARI, BADC, BRRI, Cotton Development Board, etc, at the Regional level regarding planning and execution of agricultureal development programmes where information of soils, land use, land capability, crop suitability are required. Maintaining liaison with the regional Technical Co-ordination Committee and other allied committee/bodies by providing technical assistance, advice, etc, on soil matter. Providing guidelines for and monitoring preparation of all technical reports concerning Soils, Land use, water resource, etc, by the District Offices, e.g Thana Soil Guide, suitable areas for specific crops/land use, etc. Planning and supervision of on field soil investigation programme such as groundwater monitoring, study on residual soil moisture status on different soil tracts, etc.
District Office:
Executing and implementing the technical activities as per instruction from the Regional offices. Preparing thana guides with basic soil information for the Thana Land Use Development Planning. Assisting beneficiary agencies like Department of Agriculture Extension, BARI, BRRI, etc, at district level with information and advice on matters relating to soils, land use, crop suitability, etc. Maintaining liaison with District Technical Co-ordination committees and the District Development Co-ordination Committees by providing soil information of respective district for the agricultural and other land use development. Survey of deep tube-well command areas to evaluate irrigation efficiency and suggest improved cropping patterns. Small-scale soil investigation works including soil-moisture studies, groundwater monitoring, etc.
Survey Division consists of 3 (three) sections viz. Soil and Land Classification Survey Section, Soil Survey Interpretation Section and Soil Correlation Section headed by Principal Scientific Officer (PSO) at head quarter.
Functions:
Planning, co-ordination and supervision of all technical programmes and activities of the component sections. Review and/or editing of all technical reports prepared by the component sections. Co-ordination with allied Government, Autonomous/other agencies in national programmes on soil and land resource evaluation and land utilization planning. Correlation of soils and soil and land classification surveys at national level. Responsible for overall technical porgress of the Division. . Field investigation of soil problems. Assistance to the Director in general and technical administration of the Division.
Technical Support Services Division
Technical Support Services Division consists of 5 (five) sections viz. Laboratory Section headed by Principal Scientific Officer (PSO), Training Section headed by Principal Scientific Officer (PSO), Catography Section headed by Senior Cartographer, Publication and Record Section headed by Publication & Liaison Officer and Data Processing & Statistical Section (DPSS) at head quarter.
Functions:
Planning, coordination and supervision of all technical programmes and activities of the component sections. Review and/or editing of all technical reports and maps prepared by the Division. Co-ordination with allied Government/Autonomous/other agencies in research/investigations employing physical and chemical analyses as well as adaptive research works about crop and soil-moisture relationships. Responsible for overall technical progress of the Division. Assistance to Director in gen
Soil Testing Division headed by Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and consists of 4 (four) Regional Laboratories viz. Dhaka, Comilla, Rajshahi and Khulna Regional Office headed by Principal Scientific Officer (PSO). These laboratories were transffered from BARI in 1994.
Soil, plant and water samples analyses to evaluate diagnostic problems, nutrient balance, lime and fertilizers requirement of crops.Based on soil analytical results and nutrient status soils supplied from farmers, location specific fertilizer recommendation card have beed provided.
There are 2 (two) research stations, one at Bandarban names Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Center (SCWMC) for conducting research in hilly areas about soil erosion and soil conservation and another at Botiaghata, Khulna named Salinity Management and Research Center (SMRC) to select crop/ cropping pattern suitable for coastal areas and to conduc
Adminstration Section headed by Assistant Director consists of 3 Branch viz. Administrative Branch, Accounts Branch and Store Branch.
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