Date:26/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/26/stories/2006022601100900.htm

National

`Soil health cards' for ryots in Rajasthan

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government will distribute "soil health cards'' to small and marginal farmers to provide them with vital information on the presence of biological elements in the sands and the need for fertilizers and micronutrients in the their land to get a good crop yield.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said at a meeting to formulate an action plan on "agricultural renewal and renaissance'' here on Friday that 10-lakh cards would be distributed across the State during the next one year, while the number of soil testing laboratories would be increased. Noted agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan and the State Agriculture Minister, Prabhulal Saini, attended the high-level meeting in which a decision to establish six working groups for different agro-climatic zones in the State was taken. Independent experts will head each of these groups. Ms. Raje said the groups would examine various aspects of land and soil health enhancement.