Reddy inaugurates State’s first soil testing laboratory

DIMAPUR, SEP 25 (NPN) : Union Minister for Tourism, Culture & DoNER, G Kishan Reddy, inaugurated Nagaland’s first Soil Testing Laboratory at Directorate of Soil & Water Conservation, Kohima on Friday. Speaking at the inaugural programme, Reddy said that the Centre has been at the forefront in ensuring that soil quality was effectively managed to make agriculture more productive and sustainable, a DIPR report stated.

He said that soil management was one of the most important interventions under the national mission for sustainable agriculture. Therefore, the union minister said establishment of a soil testing lab would help boost the rural farmers and agri sector by enabling systematic correction of the soil samples and analysis by generating timely test results.

Reddy said technological intervention in agri and horti product yields a major difference in quality and quantity. He also expressed contentment over the quality of the lab equipment with more comfortable instrument to analyse both micro and macro nutrients.

He said that the lab would benefit the farmers, students research, scholars and the Agri fraternity.

Stating that the Prime Minister was regularly discussing the importance of North Eastern states, Reddy said with this special focus, the Centre has allocated Rs. 6000 crore to the NE states on farmer scheme this year.

Giving the technical report of the project ‘Establishment of State Soil Testing Laboratory Building & Equipment at Kohima, Nagaland’, the director of soil and water conservation, K. Zhekheto Awomi, said that the project was funded by North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of DoNER, which was approved on June 29, 2017. He said that the actual commencement of project was undertaken on March 29, 2018. The director informed that the cost of the Project was Rs. 371.70 lakh with NEC share (90%) Rs. 334.53 lakh and the State share (10%) Rs.37.17 lakh.

The director also said that the aim and objectives of the project was to access the nutrient and fertilizer status and requirement of the soil, create awareness about the importance of maintaining soil health for sustainable production of agricultural commodities, issue soil health card as per requirement after appropriate testing and analysis of soil sample and Soil Health Management through creating awareness on balanced use of fertilizers.

Awomi said the department possesses sufficient trained personnel to man the state soil testing laboratory and also impart training to the farmers in different aspects of soil testing and soil management techniques.

Minister for planning & co-ordination land revenue, parliamentary affair, Neiba Kronu, in his speech, described Union Minister G Kishan Reddy as efficient and a practical person having the background of engineering and agriculture and a social worker.

He highlighted that the department required infrastructures in all the districts of the state so as to reach out to all the blocks. Kronu said that though the soil of the state was fertile, soil testing have become very important for agriculture in the state to check its acidity etc and that soil testing laboratories in the districts has become necessity. In this regard, Kronu urged Reddy for assistance as the resources of the department were very narrow.

Reddy holds review meeting: State planning & coordination department conducted a review meeting of state implementing departments of schemes under DoNER ministry at Hotel Japfu, Kohima, attended by Reddy.

At the meeting, Reddy said that DoNER ministry was a coordinating agency and its purpose of to coordinate all the schemes/projects of the Centre and carry out its proper implementation in the NER.

Reddy assured that he would hold review meetings with all the ministries and discuss the schemes, projects with the ministers, senior government officials of the government of India, department wise. Reddy also assured that he would review with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he said was very keen on developing the NE region.

Reddy, however, said that the state government needed to pay more attention to proper implementation of schemes, as this would pave the way for more projects to come up in the near future. He assured that more priority would be accorded to Nagaland for more schemes/projects.

Addressing the meeting, minister Neiba Kronu said that DoNER minister visiting Nagaland shows renewed focus on North East Region (NER).

Kronu stated that many SPA projects in Nagaland were pending as Central funding had stopped. He said that those projects needed special attention and intervention from the Ministry. He urged the DoNER minister to revive the Swadesh Darshan scheme in tourism sector as the scheme was beneficial for many districts in Nagaland, and many districts were yet to avail schemes. He also urged DoNER Minister to revive the Tagore scheme as such scheme would be beneficial for Nagaland to promote and preserve our culture and traditions.

Joint Development Commissioner, Planning & Coordination, Augustine M Yanthan gave a power point presentation on the review of schemes and support required from Ministry of DoNER.

Joint Secretary, DoNER, Anuradha Sharma said also poke at the meeting, which was chaired by state chief secretary, J Alam, who also delivered the welcome address.

Vote of thanks was proposed by commissioner & secretary, planning & coordination, Imokaba Jamir. Advisor KT Sukhalu, AHoDs and HoDs of all implementing departments, and a host of senior government officials also attended the review meeting.

During the interaction session, various implementing departments highlighted the achievements on their ongoing projects and also highlighted their grievances and seek support for implementing various projects.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/reddy-inaugurates-state-s-first-soil-testing-laboratory/240989.html