The Department of Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry of Indira Gandhi Agriculture University (IGAU) has started running of its mobile unit to test quality of soil at the agriculture science centres situated in 19 districts of the State. The mobile unit is scheduled to render its service for one month at each agriculture science centre to test quality of the soil brought by the farmers of the respective district.
In the first phase, the mobile unit reached Dhamtari, where District Collector Bhim Singh participated in a soil testing camp to learn the process and also to know about quality of the soil brought by the farmers of Rudri village.On the occasion, Additional Director of Agriculture Department, Dhamtari, Manisha Sarkar the Programme Coordinator from the Agriculture Science Centre, Dr SS Chandrawanshi, lalita Ramteke and other officials concerned marked their presence on the occasion. The farmers were charged `10 as fee for soil testing. Besides, if the farmers want to check availability of micro elements in the soil, `50 would be the charged additionally. As the camp will last only for a month in each district, the local farmers were requested to soon approach the Science Centre with sample of their farm land’s soil.
Fifty samples will be received each day for testing while the test report will be disclosed to the farmers by evening. Recently, a two-day training session was held for the subject experts, agriculture scientists and students to operate the mobile unit with ease. On the occasion, Dr MP Thakur shed light on soil quality and importance of its testing to get good harvest. While addressing the session, the Department Head, Dr RK Bajpai informed that the mobile soil testing unit is a joint initiative of the Centre and the State government. The unit will reach at every Agriculture Science Centre to test quality of the soil brought by local farmers.
In this way, the farmers will learn availability of different elements in their farm’s soil and will be advised about appropriate use of fertilizers that suit the soil to further increase the farm productivity.