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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Agri Dept fails to utilize soil testing laboratories

Agri Dept fails to utilize soil testing laboratories

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published Published on Oct 1, 2015   modified Modified on Oct 1, 2015
-RisingKashmir.com
 
Farmers unaware of soil tests, production takes hit: Experts
 
Srinagar: Despite having five laborites in Valley, the Agriculture department has failed to conduct the soil tests of agriculture lands of the farmers for better yield.

Soil testing methods were started in India in 1955-56 but the state is yet to introduce it among farmers affecting the states’ agriculture production.

Farmers complained that they are unaware of the soil testing methods which could have helped them use their land more judiciously.
 
Director Research SK University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKAUST-K), Dr Shafiq Ahmed Wani said farmers face a lot of difficulties in the absence of awareness. “Despite that we have got five soil testing laboratories in Kashmir, there is no concept of soil testing in our fields. Hence, the concerned departments must be proactive to inform farmers about the soil testing methods across Kashmir,” he said.  

According to a Union Agricultural Ministry report, there are 661 soil testing laboratories in India, whereas 120 mobile vans operate in 608 districts with an annual sample analysing capacity of 7.2 million. As compared to Madhya Pradesh, which remains at top in sample collection with 32867 number of samples, Jammu and Kashmir remains at bottom with merely 93 number of samples.

“The number is quite negligible in comparison to what is the capacity of our soil testing laboratories,” said an expert.

The farmers complained that concerned authorities have failed to generate awareness among them.

“There is no move from the government to disseminate the soil testing information to farmers,” Suhail Ahmad, a farmer said, adding, “I have many acres of land but I was never told to test the soil.”

Soil testing is the chemical analysis of soils, and a scientific means to detect the fertility status of soils and the nutrient requirement of crops. Soil testing methods were started in India in 1955-56 with the setting-up of 16 soil testing laboratories under the Indo-US Operational agreement for ‘Determination of Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use’.

As far as Kashmir is concerned, there are five soil testing laboratories, as per the officials.

These include four technically controlled soil testing laboratories one each in Baramulla, Pulwama, Anantnag, Budgam and one direct controlled soil testing laboratory at Lal Mandi, Srinagar. The laboratory has annual analysis capacity of 10,000 soil samples for different parameters.

“It’s unfortunate that in spite of having the facilities available here, they are of no use to the farmers. They still use the cow dung and commercial fertilizers to increase productivity,” said Mehraj ud-din Malik, an environmentalist.

“How can a farmer understand the soil testing method unless the counseling is done by the government?” he asked.

Information Officer, Department of Agriculture, Kashmir, admitted that there was lack of infrastructure and manpower in the social testing laboratories. “Definitely, there are certain loopholes, like our laboratories are not well equipped and we don’t have enough man power in these soil testing laboratories. The last year’s floods also damaged our laboratories,” he said.

He further said the department of Agriculture in collaboration with Union Agriculture Ministry has launched a programme to issue soil health cards to farmers block-wise to know about the soil testing needs. “We create zones and blocks across Kashmir to pursue the soil testing programmes. We take samples of soil from farmers district-wise. The samples are taken by the field coordinators,” he said, adding that the farmers should cooperate with the department.

RisingKashmir.com, 30 September, 2015, http://www.risingkashmir.com/news/agri-dept-fails-to-utilize-soil-testing-laboratories/


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