Rampant fertilizer use has destroyed soil fertility

Rampant fertilizer use has destroyed soil fertility

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Dec 07, 2016: Speaking after inaugurating the World Soil Day function organised by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Udupi Zilla Panchayat, and the Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Station (ZAHRS) at Brahmavar in Udupi district; Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, has urged farmers to take to organic farming to protect the fertility of soil.

 Minister Madhwaraj said that soil testing was essential if farmers were to grow crops in their fields. A few decades ago, farmers did not use fertilizer in their fields. But with the progress of science and technology, farmers started using it in a big way.  This had resulted in the soil loosing its fertility. “It will be better if the farmers reduced the use of fertilizer in their fields and take to organic farming,” he said. “Protection of soil was everyone’s responsibility as human beings, plants and animals were dependent on it for their survival,” he said.

Many farmers were not able to take full advantage of government schemes as they did not have information about it. It would be better if the farmers had full knowledge of these schemes.  The Minister also visited the exhibition of equipment and other items related to agriculture and horticulture held at the venue, he also distributed soil health cards to farmers.

Sheela K. Shetty, vice-president, Udupi Zilla Panchayat, released a poster signifying the importance of health of soil. Janardhan Tonse, Zilla Panchayat member, released pamphlets on soil health.

Sudhakar Shetty, zilla panchayat member; Saraswati Nayak, president of the Chanthar Gram Panchayat; Sudhir Kumar Shetty, Bhujana Shetty, and Susheela, taluk panchayat members; M. Hanumanthappa, Associate Director of Research, ZAHRS; S.U. Patil, Associate Extension Director; and Chandrashekhar Nayak, Joint Director of Agriculture, were present among many participants.