112776 Soil Health Cards Issued to Farmers in Punjab

Chandigarh, March 8, 2015:  To ensure the sustainable productivity of the land under cultivation and purity of water used for irrigation, the Punjab state has collected 310120 samples of soil and 19761 samples of water and analysed them at various laboratories across the state during the year 2014-15.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the Agriculture Department said that while ensuring the land productivity the government has also ensured big incentive to the farmers by providing them the soil health cards. The farmers possessing these cards were also imparted required awareness during the interactive sessions chaired by the subject matter specialists of Department of Agriculture.  He said that  112776 Soil Health Cards have been issued to farmers. He further said that the government has initiated an organised awareness campaign for the farmers regarding the usage of fertilisers in accordance with the nutrient status of his soil in accordance with the issued soil health card. Awareness camps have also been organised in this regard.

He emphasised that in the scientifically equipped laboratories at Patiala, Samana, Nabha, Rajpura and Patran as many as 13397 samples of soil and 1043 samples of water were collected and checked during the year 2014-15. He said that each soil test costs nearly Rs. 40 to the government where as a token fee of Re. 1 is taken from the farmers for his soil nutrient analyses, while his irrigation water sample is tested for free. Terming the soil test as the most essential step to enhance the yield of crops , the Deputy Commissioner, Patiala said that the farmers should check the tendency of using too much of pesticides, fertilisers and other chemicals on the land as it is hazardous for land, crops and our ecosystem.  

He also said that while delivering the soil health card to the farmer he is well apprised of his soil status in terms of nutrients and the fertilizer recommendations for his soil. He is well trained regarding the uses and functions of soil nutrients viz. nitrogen phosphorus and other elements like zinc, iron, manganese and sulphur present in the soil under cultivation. They have also been guided to use the chemicals and fertilizers in the recommended quantity as per package and practice of PAU Ludhiana.