IMPHAL, Jan 14 : An orientation course on `Soil health management` for farmers organised by the department of agriculture was held today at the office of the Self Planning Association for Empowerment, Kangla Sangomsang in Imphal east.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ng Bijoy, MLA, said that farmers who were running vegetable farms, fish farms etc. for business used excessive fertilizers and chemicals to get good crops, but they were unaware of the fact that the amount of chemicals present in the field increases and becomes poisonous and the products evolve many diseases.
We should try other means by consulting the experts to save ourselves, he advised.
Ph Rajendra, deputy director of soil chemistry, department of agriculture, said that the department`s officials surveyed the type of soil and suitable crops to be planted and distributed the necessary ingredients to the farmers along with inspecting their works.
Due to lack of irrigation the area of Kangla Sangomsang did not yield good seeds, so the department would give necessary tools like water pumps and survey the soil along with providing suitable crops, he said.
He added that the vacant fields would be surveyed and used for agriculture to help the economy of the state.
Dr. K Ibohal, assistant professor at the Central Agricultural University said that the present trend of farmers using fertilizers and chemicals for better production would prove harmful for humans because of the toxicity.
Farmers have the habit of using highly concentrated pesticides instead of finding out the right disease infecting the plants and using appropriate pesticides.
He urged the farmers not to use excessive fertilizers and chemicals.
In addition to the orientation course, soil was tested in the area by the experts from the department and mustard and pea seeds were distributed to the farmers.