Nagaland working on facilitating soil testing laboratories in all 11 districts

Dimapur, Nov. 15 (EMN): Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC), Y Kikheto Sema lauded the Soil and Water Conservation department for working tirelessly to facilitate soil testing laboratories in all the 11 districts of the state and felt that such facilities will bring prosperity to all the communities.

Sema stated this during inspection of the ongoing soil testing laboratory installation work at Soil and Water Conservation Training and Research Institute, Sechu-Zubza, on November 14.

“So far we have been randomly planting crops and engaged in farming activities without understanding the feasibility of the crops and the soil types. But with the soil testing laboratory in place, we can have better understanding of soil and there will be more output of crops,” Sema said. He said the department could now guide the farmers towards sustainable livelihood by utilising the facility, an update from the additional director of Soil and Water Conservation department Khekiho Shohe stated on Sunday.

He remarked that inspecting the laboratory on November 14 was like celebrating Ahuna festival, a post harvest festival of the Sumi Naga, which also falls on the same day. He stated that after lot of hard work, the department is seeing the light of day with the establishment of laboratories, which would be followed by testing and providing the soil health cards to the farmers.

“It is like a post harvest festival for the department,” Sema said adding it is now time for the Nagas to stand on their own feet by going back to the land and start organic farming.

“After 57 years, we now have a full fledged proper facility to test the soil, which will be followed by application of nutrients and soil amendment to the soil,” Sema added.

During interaction with the departmental officials, he expressed optimism that the soil testing laboratory would serve as a gateway and unify various agri and allied departments in near future.

Later, APC visited the upcoming organic AC Market at Agri Expo site, Dimapur.