Mobile soil testing kits distributed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 16 2011:
Along with the launching of Soil Health Management Campaign, Department of Agriculture has provided mobile soil testing kits to farmers at a function held today at the Irawat Memorial Hall in Challou.
As chief guest of the function Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat along with functional president Commissioner (Agriculture) Letkhogin Haokip, and guest of honour L Palendro (director/Agriculture) handed over the kits to representatives of 18 different farmer's organisations of Imphal East and West districts.
Presenting the key-note address, Deputy Director (Agriculture) Kh Rajendro said lack of irrigation infrastructure and fluctuations in annual rainfall in the two districts are some of the hindrances that confront the farmers.
Further noting that preparations for seasonal crops normally begin in the months of June and July in these districts where usage of fertilizer is also low compared to other areas of the State, he called upon the farmers for regular consultation with experts in order to reap fruit of their toil in the fields.
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He also prevailed upon the farmers to adopt multiple cropping system rather than persisting with the age-old tradition of leaving the fields vacant after harvest of paddy plantations.
In his address, Agriculture Minister Parijat strongly suggested that plantation of vegetables and other food crops be taken up by the farmers after harvest of paddy crops for which the mobile soil testing kits distributed today could come handy in determining the soil texture for cultivation of the most suitable vegetable plants.
Speaking at the occasion, Director L Palendro assured maximum assistance and technical support of the department experts in addition to reiterating that soil testing is an important component of scientific farming.