Judicious fertilizer use campaign begins in Haryana tomorrow

Chandigarh, Apr 12 (UNI) With a view to promoting judicious use of fertilizers, the Haryana Agriculture Department will launch a massive state level campaign on Baisakhi (tomorrow) in public-private partnership mode.

Informing this here today Minister for Agriculture Harmohinder Singh Chatha said that the campaign would be launched in village Kardhan in Ambala district of the State by KRIBHCO and in villages Chhajpur Khurd and Kachrauli in district Panipat by the National Fertilizers Limited on the same day.

The Minister informed that other major suppliers of fertilizers like Chambal Fertilizers and Chemicals, Tata Chemicals Limited, IFFCO, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Company Limited, Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited, Rashtirya Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shriram Fertilizers and Chemicals and Indian Potash Limited would also launch the campaign in other districts of the state during this week.

He maintained that each fertilizer company had selected atleast 20 acres of land in districts allotted to it, where demonstrations on balanced use of fertilizer use would be organized in the kharif season in collaboration with the agriculture department. Mr Chatha stated that the soil of all the farmers would be tested for the status of the NPK nutrients and micronutrients. He stated that Soil Health Cards would also be distributed to the farmers free of cost indicating the fertility status of their soils and recommendations of fertilizers for raising various crops.

He further added that the scientists of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar would also be associated with the farmers' training camps being organized for this purpose.

Mr Chatha said that through effective dissemination, a majority of the farmers in the selected villages would be motivated to opt for the judicious use of chemical fertilizers by the next rabi season.

He added that the department was also distributing 2571 quintals of 'dhaincha' seed which is a leguminous crop and helps in storing nitrogen in soil, free of cost to the farmers.

UNI HS SBJ HT1848