The agriculture department has made arrangements for conducting soil test through a mobile laboratory to enable farmers to ascertain the deficiency in soil at their doorsteps.
The laboratory will camp in villages and collect soil samples from fields and furnish the results to the farmers at a nominal cost of Rs. 20 per field.
After inaugurating the services of the laboratory at Nochikulam in Alathur block, Darez Ahmed, Collector, said that loss of nutrients in soil was a major reason for the fall in yield, and a majority of farmers failed to ensure proper test of soil.
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The laboratory would visit the villages in Perambalur and Ariyalur districts, and the scientists would release the results on the spot the same day.
Specific test for pH content, salt, acid, and other minerals would be conducted. A hand book would be given to guide the farmers for soil test.
Test would be conducted at Melamathur village on Wednesday; Echachampatti village on Thursday; and Ammapalayam on Friday.
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Sankaralingam, Joint Director of Agriculture, said that the farmers could contact agriculture department officials on 90470-72766, 90470-72764, 90470-72763, and 90470-72768.
Tamilselvan, MLA, and M. Ravichandran, chairman of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Committee spoke