Agriculture department has appealed to the farmers of Raigarh district to get the soil of their farms tested. The department has launched a special drive to collect soil samples from the agriculture fields and after testing it in the laboratories, it will inform the farmers about the merits and demerits of the soil. This soil testing facility has been provided to the farmers at a fee of Rs 2 only.
Deputy Director Agriculture Gayaram said that the drive had been launched in the district in April last, but could not speed up it due to the lok Sabha election. In May, the programme would be run at a massive scale and after test of samples, soil health cards would be given to the farmers.
The deputy director said that there were various benefits of soil testing. Farmers get full information about the nutrients of their farmland. According to the level of nutrients in the soil, the farmer can add or reduce the quantity of fertilizer in it. It will give a better crop production.
He said, looking to the ratio of nutrients in the soil, farmers have been informed of the use of quantity of fertilizers. last year, soil testing of 4,526 farmers of the district had been done, whereas, this year so far 3,000 samples have been collected and sent for testing.
Farmers and Sangwaris will be imparted training on farming of Kharif crops from this month. To impart timely information and training for better farming to the farmers of the district, Krishak Suchna Evam Salah Kendra Bhawan has been constructed at block headquarters. Construction of Krishak Suchna Evam Salah Kendra Bhawan at Raigarh, Dharamjaigarh, Baramkela, Sarangarh, and lailunga has been completed, while buildings are under construction at Gharghoda, Tamnar and Pusjner, which are expected to be completed by May end. Through these centres, training would be imparted to the farmers of the region on a regular basis.