Farmers in Dakshina Kannada to get soil health cards from May

MANGALURU: Departments of agriculture, horticulture and Krishi Vijnan Kendra (KVK) will start distribution of soil health cards from May, 2016, said H Kempegowda, joint director, agriculture department. At a World Soil Health Day celebrations on Saturday, Kempegowda said, soil health was not given much importance earlier. "We have now identified 48,000 grids comprising 10 hectares of agriculture land each in Dakshina Kannada. In the first phase, soil of 24,000 grids will be tested and soil health cards will be issued. Soil testing process will be commenced in the district from January 1, 2016 and distribution of soil health cards will start in May. Within two years, soil health cards will be distributed to all 48,000 grids in the district," he said adding that three laboratories with trained technicians will be opened in the district. Scientific evaluation of soil health started in India in the 1950s. However, detailed study on micro nutrients in soil was commenced in the 1980s. The soil health card issued to farmers will have all details including the proportion of micro nutrients in it, he said. Zilla panchayat CEO P I Sreevidya distributed soil health cards to five farmers on the occasion. She said that soil health card will be useful for farmers to increase their agriculture yield. "Using fertilisers unscientifically without proper knowledge of the soil health will have no benefits. Nutrients should be used scientifically by going through the soil health report and based on the need. The government will be there to extend support to farmers to make agriculture more profitable," she added. -TOI