The soil testing laboratory at the primary agricultural cooperative credit society at Varadarajapuram in the district has been playing a crucial role in improving the soil fertility of banana cluster in Thottiyam belt.
Started in 2009 with a financial assistance of Rs.6 lakh shared equally by the State Departments of Agriculture and Cooperation, the laboratory has been serving the banana farmers of Musiri, Thottiyam and nearby villages well. Excess application of potash and poor availability of urea have been the major problems confronting the farmers. “We educate farmers to stabilise soil nutrients and they have been reducing the quantum of potash and stepping up urea use,” says S.Saravanan, secretary of the society. The entire service zone had been divided into three major centres: Tirunarayanapuram, Arasalur, and M.Puthur. The society had so far conducted 2,689 soil tests, 1,323 field tests, and nine water sample tests; he said adding that the society members also collect samples by visiting the fields.
The society has been creating awareness among farmers on a sustained basis. “We convene farmers’ meetings and discuss various issues. A discussion on soil test tops the list of such discussions,” he says. The services being rendered by the society has gone down well with the farmers of not only Thottiyam but also adjoining districts. “Farmers from Namakkal and Salem districts too make use of our service,” he says. Furnishing result within 24 hours of collecting samples makes the lab an attractive option. Farmers show keen interest in taking remedial measures for enriching soil fertility in their fields, he said.
