Nearly a thousand farmers in various parts of the district have been issued free soil health cards. The soil health cards had been distributed to farmers in Kalady, Amballoor, Chennamangalam, Puthenvelikkara and Kottuvally panchayats, said a statement issued by the Department of Public Relations.
The statement said work on issuing the remaining soil health cards was progressing smoothly in the district and the farmers were expected to be issued soil health cards soon. The issue of soil health cards is part of a programme by the Department of Agriculture to help farmers understand the nature of the soil for their farming activities.
‘Niravu’ programme
The soil health cards are part of the larger objective of creating the soil-based plant nutrient management information system.
Soil sample collection for testing and issue of soil health cards was launched in 2011 under the ‘Niravu’ comprehensive agricultural development programme.
A total of 855 soil health cards were issued during 2011-12 under the panchayat-level soil testing programme. Eighteen farmers in Chennamangalam panchayat and 2,040 farmers in Puthenvelikkara and Kottuvally panchayats were issued soil health cards during 2013-14.
Another 3,838 farmers in Puthenvelikkara, Chennamangalam and Kottuvally panchayats were issued soil health cards during 2014-15.
“The Soil Survey and Conservation Department is also engaged in developing infrastructure facilities for the rural areas using the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund,” the press release said. This includes the work on the Panangarathode wetland near Kothamangalam and the drainage project for the Mekkadambu in Moovattupuzha taluk.
