HAU to provide soil, water sample testing facility to farmers

Chandigarh, Feb 8 (UNI) Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar has decided to provide soil and water sample testing facility to the farmers of the state from the month of April this year at its Kurukshetra situated Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

While stating this here today, an official spokesman said that this testing facility would be provided through the soil testing laboratory which was being established at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra of Kurukshetra.

He said that a special campaign would be launched in the Kurukshetra district from the month of March to encourage the farmers to cultivate the SML-668 variety of Moong. "This variety matures early and thus most suitable to cultivate in the areas of wheat-rice rotation. The farmers would be motivated to grow it during the summer season in between the time of wheat and rice cultivation and earn additional income," he said, adding that the same campaign had been launched during last year which had brought very positive and encouraging results.

"Last year the farmers on the advise of the University had sown the crop of wheat by November 15 which resulted in producing 80 kg of wheat per hectare on an average. This year also, almost 90 per cent of farmers had followed the advice for obtaining bumper crop," he added.

He said that the unemployed youth of Kurukshetra district had shown interest for Mushroom cultivation. "A district level Mushroom production cooperative committee had been constituted so that the farmers get remunerative prices of their produce. Apart from this, in collaboration with District Rural Development Agency, a machine costing Rs 10 lakh had also been installed to prepare manure for Mushroom cultivation," the spokesman said.

UNI PS JS1755