The Agriculture Department has conducted soil sample tests at various fields across the district and so far 1.50 lakh samples have been analysed to benefit farmers, said Gururaj Singh, Joint Director of Agriculture.
Prize distributionSpeaking after distributing prizes to farmers who won in various contests at a day-long seminar on “increasing pulses productivity through foliar application of water soluble fertilizers” organised jointly by the Agriculture Department and the Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative Society Limited (IFFCO) here on Friday, Mr. Gururaj Singh emphasised the importance of testing soil in agricultural fields so that farmers could take steps to adjust the deficiencies.
Mr. Gururaj Singh appealed to farmers to utilise micro irrigation techniques for registering higher yield. Tiruchi district, by virtue of its infrastructure such as horticultural college, sugarcane research station, and agricultural engineering college was ideally suited for research and development in agriculture.
V. Chandrasenan Nair, Deputy Director, Farmers Training Centre, said the seminar aimed at sensitising pulses growers to the importance of foliar application of water soluble fertilizers.
R. Chandrasekar, Deputy Director of Agri Business, said the farmers’ discussion groups spoke on value addition in agricultural produce.
D. Subramanian, Chief Area Manager, IFFCO, said the IFFCO had introduced urea phosphate, a water soluble fertiliser which should be applied during flowering stage on pulses.
Foliar sprayThe foliar spray enhanced yield and the IFFCO supplied mini kits to 10 farmers on the occasion.
P. Viswanathan, State president of Tamizhaga Eri Mattrum Aatrupasana Vivasayigal Sangam, appealed to the Agriculture Department officials to ensure follow-up on soil tests being conducted in the fields.
He wanted a periodical training programme to be organised for sugarcane cultivators at the research station in Sirugamani.
ExhibitionAn exhibition of various agricultural products was displayed on the occasion. Convenors of Farmers Discussion Groups participated in the programme and displayed their crops.
Mr.Gururaj Singh gave away prizes to winners in IFFCO quiz contest broadcast by All India Radio, Tiruchi.
