Dimapur, December 5 (MExN): The World Soil Day was celebrated across Nagaland on Tuesday, December 5 with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) holding programmes in their respective districts.
In Dimapur, the celebrations was organised by the KVK Dimapur at ICAR Centre in Medziphema where Dr. Capt. G. Dhanan Jaya Rao, Dean College of Veterinary Sciences, Peren, was chief guest and Professor Akali Sema, Dean SASRD, Medziphema was guest of honour.
A small exhibition was arranged, where farmers displayed their farm produce. A total of 7 SHGs participated in the exhibition-cum-sale of their produce.
The programme started with the welcome address by Dr DJ Rajkhowa, Joint Director, where he spoke of the increasing pressure on land and the need to grow 2-3 crops in a year in the same piece of land to meet the food grain requirement. He added that balanced fertilization is important as soils are more acidic which limits the nutrient availability to crops affecting the production.
Resource person Dr. AK Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Agriculture Chemistry and Soil Science, SASRD, Medziphema delivered the talk on “Importance of Soil testing, Soil health cards and its benefits”.
He told the farmers that their income was decreasing as the cost of cultivation was increasing today as compared to 40-50 years back. Almost all the soils are deficient in nutrients, he said and advised the farmers to know their nutrient status and requirement of crops. A total of 113 soil health card were distributed to the farmers while 300 participants attended the programme.
Longleng
The World Soil Day was also observed in Longleng at the KVK office premises with Y Denngan Avennoho Phom, Deputy Commissioner, Longleng distributing soil health cards to the farmers.
Altogether 57 farmers and rural youths from 8 villages viz., Hukphang, Lingtak, Pongching, Tangha, Orangkong, Mongtikang, Yaong-yimchen, Nyang and Yongam attended the programme.
Avennoho, in his speech, addressed the adverse effects of common salt application for controlling weeds in jhum field and requested the farmers to cooperate with KVK for their day to day research and extension activities.
During the feedback session, Kapso Phom stated that KVK is regularly visiting the farmers’ field and monitoring the farming activities and suggested that soil collection, testing and providing health cards for the respective farmers’ field will help them in improving productivity through application of recommended doses of fertilizers for different crops.
Dr. Manoj Kumar, SMS (Agronomy) delivered the overview of the world soil day programme. He encouraged the farmers to cultivate pulses (Green gram/Black gram) in Jhum field after harvesting of rice for improvement of soil fertility through symbiotic nitrogen fixation and produce vermicompost through locally available biomass for utilization of compost during the sowing/planting of crop, which improve the soil health.
He also urged the farmers to convert the jhum land into terraces during the fallow period of jhum which conserve the soil, nutrient and water for sustaining the soil health. The overall co ordination of the programme was initiated by staffs of KVK Longleng.
Wokha In Wokha, the World Soil Day was celebrated at the KVK Conference Hall with Athrong, EAC, Deputy Commissioner Office, Wokha district as chief guest.
Speaking to the gathering of around 130 famers and 12 officials, and KVK, the chief guest highlighted the importance of soil for food security, agriculture, livelihood and human welfare. During the programme, he distributed 113 soil health cards to the farmers of five villages of the district and urged the farmers to make use of the soil testing facility from KVK Wokha for nutrient and fertilizer management of their soils for better crop productivity.
Zunheboto
In Zunheboto, the World Soil Day was observed at KVK, Nagaland University, Lumami with Prof. P. Lal, Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University as the Chief Guest. Altogether 60 farmers from 6 different villages attended the programme. In his speech, the chief guest emphasised on the importance of maintaining the soil health through organic farming and preserving the soil microbes as most of the microbial activities are beneficial for healthy growth of crops.
Phek
In Phek, the celebrations were held at the ZAPO Court, Zuketsa with around 320 farmers and government officials participating in the event.
Wepre, a farmer representative appreciated the activities of KVK-Phek and other departments for their support in the agricultural developments in the villages. He also urged the concern department to take up more capacity building programmes in the villages.
Soil Health Cards were distributed among the farmers from 4 villages viz., Lasumi, Leshemi, Zapami & Zuketsa.
Guest of Honour Zeneikhonuo Vimero, ADC Pfutsero appreciated the village councils for their endeavour towards conservation of flora and fauna of the region and encouraged the villagers to practice organic ways of farming and other scientific soil conservation measures.
A farmer-expert interaction programme was also conducted with the experts later visiting the farmers field and demonstration units.
.JPG)
