Mr. Ken Shimizu, FAO Representative for Nepal and Bhutan has visited the National Soil Services Centre at Semtokha on 26th November 2021. During his visit, Mr. Shimizu met with the Program Director and the Program Heads of the Centre and reviewed the progress of the ongoing FAO-TCP on Strengthening Soil Laboratory Facilities. The meeting also discussed other potential areas for future FAO support and collaboration, which included, among others, five priority areas:

1) Building National Soil Database,

2) ICT enabled Soil Health management including promotion of Rapid Soil Testing Kits and Sensor-based soil testing,

3) Strengthening Soil Microbiology Laboratory,

4) Assessment of Soil Biodiversity in the Bhutanese Soils, and

5) Advocacy on the importance of improving Soil Health for sustained food and nutrition security through observation of National and International Days like “World Soil Day” and other programs. Mr. Shimizu also visited the Soil and Plant Analytical Laboratory and had excellent interaction with the Soil
Chemist.

Mr. Shimizu is currently in the country to present his credentials to the Royal Government and also to meet with key counterparts and stakeholders. His visit to the Centre was accompanied by Mr. Chado Tenzin from FAO-Bhutan. Mr. Shimizu is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

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