3 soil testing laboratories inaugurated in Dimapur

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Jan. 24 (EMN): Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation, G Kaito Aye on Monday inaugurated three laboratories — static soil testing laboratory, fertiliser quality control laboratory and bio-organic quality control laboratory — at District Soil Conservation office in Dimapur.

Speaking at the inauguration programme, Aye urged the farmers to make use of the few available facilities provided by the Agri and Allied departments to help and sustain their livelihood.

Aye added that only a few facilities were available due to ‘insurance policy and lack of initiatives shown by the department’. He therefore urged the concerned department to share their ideas and initiatives in the meeting and appealed to the various allied departments to make it an organised sector to achieve their goals and target.

‘When there are no activities and initiatives, how do we expect the government or planning committee to give more support’, he said.

The minister added that the department must ‘struggle and upgrade to reach the destination so that no department is deprived of what it is supposed to get.’

He urged the Soil department to ‘wake up’ and used its technical knowledge and skills.

Aye stated that money is not everything, but its activities would bring in more incentives as Agri and allied departments were ‘getting a good amount of money to be utilised’. He added that the department must fight for the welfare of the people but unless all of them come together and support each other, it would not be possible.

The minister said that farmers were the backbone of the nation and must give facilities, technical and scientific knowledge to the farmers.

Minister for Soil and Water Conservation, Geology and Mining and NSMDC, V Kashiho Sangtam while delivering a short speech, said that Nagaland had enough soil testing laboratories even at the block level, and urged the Agri and Allied department to inform farmers to avail the facilities.

Sangtam added that even in Nagaland, he observed that all the soil was not organic, especially in Dimapur, due to the usage of fertilisers and chemicals. Thus, to make the soil more organic, soil testing is very important, he said.

While delivering the technical report, Director of Soil and Water Conservation K Zhekheto Awomi said that the total cost of establishing three laboratories was INR 235 lakh out of which static soil testing laboratory and fertiliser quality control laboratory cost INR 75 lakh each and bio-organic quality control laboratory cost INR 85 lakh.

Awomi stated that under the Soil Health Management Scheme, the department had established 14 static soil testing laboratories covering all districts, including one at Soil and Water Conservation Training and Research Centre Sechu and Seyochung.

He added that block-level mini soil testing laboratories for all blocks were also ready and would be flagged off by the chief secretary after the Republic Day function at Secretariat Plaza.