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Farmers at Selouphe village, Dimapur during the activities undertaken by Department of Soil and Water Conservation.
Dimapur, February 19 (MExN): The Department of Soil and Water Conservation, Government of Nagaland today stated that it is zealously taking up the pilot project on model village during 2019-20 on a war footing to provide Soil Health Cards to 27,304 farmer beneficiaries within a stipulated time and also to promote and distribute micronutrients covering 70,000ha.
The department is also gearing up for setting the state of the art Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) in all the district headquarters and Fertilizer Quality Control Laboratory (FQCL) & Bio Organic Fertilizer Quality Control Laboratory (BOQCL) at Dimapur with the aim of delivering commendable services to the farming communities of the state, stated a press release issued by K Khekiho Shohe, Joint Director and State Nodal Officer for Soil Health Card & Management.
All 11 districts observe Soil Health Card Day
On the occasion of Soil Health Card Day, Nagaland organized activities across all the 11 districts of the state in coordination with KVKs and other agri and allied departments on February 19.
The Soil Health Card Day was celebrated with the objective of scaling up awareness on importance, values and benefits of Soil Health Card based recommendation amongst the farmers of the state.
The department under the pilot project on model villages during 2019-20 has adopted one village in each of the 74 blocks, where Soil Health Card will be provided to each and every farmer after analysis based on the land holdings. Besides providing SHCs, Kisan Mela and demonstrations are also scheduled for all the 74 villages in the coming months in order to sensitize the farmers on the importance of soil health management and its benefits in crop production.
Workshop held in regional level
In the regional level, a workshop was organized at Dr M S Swaminathan Hall, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya with Parshottam Rupala, Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ welfare, GoI as the chief guest.
The programme includes, overview of Soil Health Cards, Integrated Nutrient Management, presentation and experience sharing by representatives from line departments and farmers from all the 8 NE states.
The chief guest in his remark cited the importance of organic food production which is attracting the global and apprise of creating awareness amongst the NE farmers in order to boost the economy of the NE farmers in posterity.
K Khekiho Shohe, Joint Director and State Nodal Officer for Soil Health Card & Management represented the state on the said programme where he addressed the gathering on the perspectives of Shifting cultivation and its sustainability through incorporation of best soil and water conservation technologies at the farmers’ field for attaining long term agriculture production and doubling of farmer’s income. He also highlighted the activities undertaken by the department as an implementing agency in the state.
Additional Secretary to GOI, MoA&FW, Dr Alka Bhargava acknowledged the suggestions and recommendations put up by the officials and farming community of the NER and committed to considerately look into the matter.
