On the occasion of World Food Day (#WorldFoodDay), when India along with global community fights in solidarity the widespread effects of COVID-19, ICAR-AICRP on Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) organized several programmes to imbibe scientific knowledge among the farmers (#FoodHeroes) about management of soil health for improving crop productivity and profitability in the hands of farmers.
In Tamil Nadu, STCR Centre at TNAU, Coimbatore organised a Virtual Conference on “Zoom to grassroots for food security to build back better” through STCR-IPNS approach.
Dr. R. Santhi, Director (DNRM), briefed about the need for the adoption of STCR-IPNS based fertilizers prescriptions and latest technologies for getting higher yield and also narrated the activities and services rendered in the Soil Testing and Technology Advisory Centre (SOTAC) for the benefit of farming community.
Dr. Pradip Dey, Project Coordinator, AICRP-STCR, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal in his special address highlighted about the declining soil productivity over a period of time and need to arrest the same to build back better by adoption of STCR-IPNS approach for ensuring food security. He lauded the efforts taken to reach the unreached for accelerated adoption of STCR-IPNS technology under Schedule Tribe Component (erstwhile Tribal Sub Plan) and applauded the contributions of #FoodHeroes.
Dr. P. Malarvizhi, Professor and Head (SS&AC) thrown light on the current fertility status of Tamil Nadu soils and emphasised the need for maintenance of the organic carbon status through crop residue addition and IPNS to enhance the crop yields.
In Telangana, STCR centre at PJTSAU, Hyderabad organized World Food Day programme at at village Burjugaddha thanda, Shamshabad mandal, Rangareddy district.
A Farmer-Scientist Interaction meet was organized on the occasion maintaining proper isolation distancing. Farmers were trained about soil health management, mixed cropping and alternate/integrated farming practices. Interpretation of soil health cards and saving of input cost through soil test based fertilizer application were also explained.
In Odisha, STCR Centre at OUAT, Bhubaneswar celebrated the World Food Day virtually with farmers of 4 villages of Reamal block, Deogarh district. programme was ognanised on the occasion, in which total of 35 farmers participated to interact with the Scientists about management of soil health and STCR based nutrient management.
Source: AICRP (STCR), ICAR-IISS, Bhopal
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