ICAR Sikkim Centre Collected Soil Samples for Issuing of Soil Health Card on World Soil Day
Considering the celebration for International Year of Soils, 2015 and issuing of Soil Health Card ICAR Sikkim Centre, Tadong along with KVK, Ranipool (East) has collected 250 soil samples collection from farmers field of different villages namely; Tempyem, Sajong, Sajong-Rumtek, Rumtek, Lossing, Samlik and Namin villages (1150-1450m above MSL) of East Sikkim District. Dr. R. K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR Sikkim Centre initiated the programme and given time bound task to the Soil Scientist of ICAR Sikkim Centre. Geo-reference soil samples were collected by Mr. Shoan Kumar Das, Scientist (Agril. Chemistry/Soil Science); Mr. Boniface Lepcha, SMS (Hort.); Miss Kalpana Sharma, SRF (NICRA) and Miss Sushmita Subbha, HSW (NICRA). During the collection, the team monitored the field of respective farmers and took feedback from them. Further, awareness information about “Soil Health Card” was also imparted to the farmers which will provide crop wise recommendations of organic nutrient requirement for the individual field to enhance the crop productivity. The soil health card will give information both on macro and micro nutrients. Sampling has been made from an area of 10 ha grid under rainfed condition. GPS and other detailed information have also been collected from each and every farmer belonging to that grid area. Soil sample has been drawn from five randomly selected sites of different farm holding and subsequently mixed as per standard procedure to obtain a representative composite sample of that particular grid. Soil sample was dried, sieved and analysis has been started for preparation of Soil Health Card. Based on the analysis of soil sample, Soil Health Card will be distributed to the 250 nos. of farmers on the occasion of World Soil Day on December 5, 2015.
Shri P. D. Rai, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha-Sikkim) has been briefed about the exercise of soil sample collection and issue of Soil Health Card. He evinced great interest in this important activity keeping in view Sikkim becoming Organic Farming State by 2015 end wherein soil health will be of paramount importance.
