Soil health cards to be distributed among Uttarakhand farmers within 6 months

Wednesday July 15, 2015 , 2 min Read

Drive for distributing soil health cards among farmers will be intensified in Udhamsingh Nagar, Haridwar, Nainital and Dehradun districts so that that the process is complete within six months, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said.

Making the announcement while inaugurating the state’s first Mango Festival here, Rawat said soil health cards will enable farmers to increase productivity as they will carry crop wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilisers required for farms, making it possible for them to improve productivity by using appropriate inputs.

Though soil health cards have already begun to be distributed among farmers in the state, officials have been instructed to complete the process in these four mango producing districts within six months, he said. Advising mango growers to replace the old trees with new ones to increase productivity, the chief minister said people involved in the trade must analyse reasons for low mango productivity in Uttarakhand.

Promising all help from the state government for this Rawat said streamlining agriculture is necessary for a self-reliant and resurgent Uttarakhand. Announcing steps taken by the state government to incentivise agriculture, the chief minister spoke of bonuses being given to farmers for planting trees and for reviving water reservoirs.

According to PTI, state Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat said 40 thousand hectares of land in the state are covered by mango orchards and hill areas of thge state are known for some of the late varieties which are available even during winter.

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