On the directions of Director Extension SKUAST-Kashmir, Prof. Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Gurez organized one day training programme on “Soil health management/Soil health card implementation scheme” at Dak Bungalow, Dawar Gurez.
The training programme was attended by officers & officials from departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture and Krishi Sakhis, Pashu Sakhis from National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). The incharge Head of the Kendra, Dr Bilal Ahmad deliberated upon the significance of Soil health management in present day agriculture and its contribution in mitigating climate change by maintaining or increasing its carbon content.
He also sensitised participants about the techniques involved in collection of soil samples for testing and informed the participants that the soil testing facilities will be made available soon at newly established Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Dawar, Gurez.
Dr Waseem Ali Dar, Scientist Plant Pathology gave detailed power point presentation on techniques involved in Soil health management and the role of healthy soils in agriculture as healthy soils produce healthy crops that in turn nourish people and animals as soil quality is directly linked to food quality and quantity and checking the incidence of diseases of some important crops grown in Gurez valley.
He also emphasized on officers to motivate farmers for mass soil sampling. Dr M. Mudasir Magray, Scientist (Vegetable Sciences) deliberated upon the role of macro and micro nutrients for quality production of vegetable crops and stressed upon the participants to sensitise farmers about the benefits under Soil health card scheme.
He said under the scheme, the farmers are provided with a soil health card that determines the crops that can be cultivated in the particular soil and measures to develop the productivity of the crops. At the end of the programme, the incharge head assured the officers that the newly established Kendra will work in close coordination with all the allied departments for better adoption of various technologies of Agriculture, horticulture, sericulture and others.