Celebration of World Soil Day 2017
KVK Ri-Bhoi in collaboration with NRM Division, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam celebrated “World Soil Day” on 5th December 2017 at Dr M. S. Swaminathan Auditorium, ICAR Umiam.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Celestine Lyngdoh, the Hon’ble Minister of Printing and Stationary and PHE Department, Government of Meghalaya was delighted to be a part of the programme and he encouraged KVK Ri Bhoi to further organize such programmes for the benefit of the farmers and help in sensitizing them about the benefits of Soil Health Cards. Further, he urged the farmers not to exploit the soil but to maintain its health for greater benefits.
Dr. N. Prakash, Director, ICAR, Umiam and Chairman of the programme also expressed his happiness and requested the farmers to grow pulses after paddy to increase cropping intensity and productivity which would help for doubling farmers’ income.
Dr. B. C. Deka, Director, ICAR-ATARI Zone-VII, Umiam shared a few practical tips in handling soil health with the cultivation of temperature-tolerant pea variety Arka Priya after harvest of highly nutrient-exhaustive crops like ginger, turmeric and maize.
Dr. S. Hazarika, Principal Scientist (Soil Science) & Head, NRM Division presented in brief on soil health and organic manure production process to improve soil health, food and nutritional security. He also recommended to use lime in furrows @200 to 400 kg/ha and 0.2% Borax spray for acid soil management.
Dr. A. Sen, Principal Scientist and Nodal Officer of KVKs, ICAR Umiam highlighted the importance of World Soil Day and emphasised to use locally available organic matter for soil health improvement.
About 200 Soil Health Cards (SHC) and two Soil Testing Kits were dstributed to farmers of 15 different villages of Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. Technological inputs like pea seed of 50 kg was also distributed to 10 farmers of participating villages. All about 303 farmers, 36 officials including Scientists, staff of ICAR, KVKs and DDK Shillong.
In addition, the farmers were made aware about the various technologies developed at ICAR for wider dissemination and application by the farmer of Ri Bhoi district in particular and Meghalaya as a whole through Farmers’- Scientist interactions.
Earlier, Dr. M. Mokidul Islam, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK Ri Bhoi, cited the objectives and theme of World Soil Day 2017 “Caring for the Planet Starts from the Ground”. The Programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. P. Bordoloi, SMS (Soil Science), KVK Ri Bhoi.
