Soil tests labs to come up in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov. 28: In order to maintain the fertility of the agricultural land of Malda, the district administrative officials have planned to set up soil test laboratories in each of the 15 Blocks. They have already sent proposals to the government for sanctioning funds through the agriculture department. The department hopes to launch the project soon. Besides the laboratory this unit will also function as clinic for agricultural produces in each Block. Reports reveal that the by the rampant use of fertilisers, ignorant farmers have ‘killed’ 'soil characters' and did not have the capacity to produce more crops. “Agriculture officials fear that if the rampant use of chemical fertilisers continues the fertile crop lands will become barren in future,” said an administrative officer at the Malda district magistrate's office. He further said that the soil test laboratories would guide the farmers, informing them regarding the character and texture of soil. Moreover, the agriculture officials would be able to advice them on the methods of maintaining soil character for further production, the officer said. The present problem of the agricultural lands was discussed at the meeting held in the district magistrate's office on Monday for implementing the Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojona. In order to boost up agriculture the additional district magistrate (development) held a meeting with the concerned officials of the agri-irrigation department recently. It was learnt that the project for conservation of water for minor irrigation in rain fed areas in the Barind belt has not been implemented properly. Though the agri-irrigation had excavated ponds for the conservation of water but many of them dried up. Today, a team of agri-irrigation and other officials including people's representatives visited the sites of Barind belt for water conservation project. It has been decided that the officials will use polythene sheets at the ground level to keep the the water separate from the ground level of water.