Southern States - Karnataka   

RCF plans more soil testing labs

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN JUNE 19. The General Manager of Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF), J.P.Bargale, has said that the RCF has decided to strengthen the soil testing laboratory in the district and plans to set up a few more laboratories.

Addressing a dealers' conference here on Thursday, he said that as sustainable agriculture was the need of the hour, improving micronutrients in the soil had become imperative.

There was a sea change in the fertilizer industry with the introduction of the new fertilizer policy by the Union Government.

As the Government had changed the subsidy structure, many players were entering the field.

V.B.Balakrishna, Deputy General Manager, RCF, said fertilizer companies, including the RCF, were in a critical state. Failure of the monsoon for three years in a row had complicated problems in fertilizer industry, he said.

Dodda Hanumaiah, Training Organiser and Head of the Agriculture Research Centre, Kandali, said the Green Revolution, instead of helping farmers, had worsened their problems.

It was imperative for farmers to adopt cost-cutting measures to compete in the international market.

Unaware of this, farmers were using a few banned chemicals that reduced the yield.

Venkatesh, plant pathologist, said the excess use of chemicals would lead to pests developing resistance.

He said farmers had to consult agricultural experts before using chemicals and they should concentrate on "treatment" of seeds before sowing.

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