ARS, Karimnagar organized Awareness Programme on Soil Health Management and Distribution of Soil Health Cards on the eve of Soil Health Card Day and Field Diagnostic Visit in Adopted Village, Nagulamallial of Kothapally of Karimnagar District on 19th February, 2024

Awareness Programme on Soil Health Management and Distribution of Soil Health Cards on the eve of Soil Health Card Day and Field Diagnostic Visit in Adopted Village, Nagulamallial of Kothapally of Karimnagar District on 19th February, 2024 was organized by ARS, Karimnagar. On the eve of Soil Health Card Day, around 300 Soil Health Cards were distributed to the farmers of adopted village. ADA (Technical) Karimnagar, Smt. Anjani addressed the farmers on the importance of Soil Health Management, Soil Sample Analysis and the urgent need to protect soil for future generations. Later, Dr.G.Usharani, Scientist (Pl.Br.) has delivered a lecture on “Sesame varieties, cultivation aspects and value addition of sesame” as a part of crop rotation for soil enrichment. Dr. P.Madhukar Rao, Scientist (Agro.) elaborated on Green manuring and green gram as pre-kharif pulse so that the farmers can practice for the forthcoming season and also detailed the information produced in the Soil Health Card and how to employ during fertilizer application during the next season. Dr. K.Madan Mohan Reddy, Coordinator, DAATTC has demonstrated Hands on training on agriculture mobile apps for farmers so that the farmers can independently find control measures for the pest or disease damaged symptoms diagnosed in the fields. Dr. M.Rajendra Prasad, Scientist (Crop Protection) has briefed the pest and disease management in paddy and sesamum and also created Awareness on FPOs and sensitized the farmers to form FPOs for reaping several benefits during crop produce sale or purchase or so. The Coromandel Private Limited Marketing Officer, Karimnagar, Sri. Rajesh and Development Officer and Agronomist, Karimnagar, Sri Prudvi have explained the farmers about their organic products viz., Karbon, Nrich, etc. dosage and benefits of applying them for soil health management and enrichment and also distributed safety kits to few of the farmers of the adopted village. Later, field diagnostic visit was taken up in paddy and maize fields. Stem borer and sulphide injury was noticed in the fields. For the control of stem borer, application of Carbofuran 3G granules @10 kg/acre or Cartap Hydrochloride 4G @8 kg/acre OR Chloranthriniprole 0.4G @ 4 kg per acre was suggested. To overcome the sulphide injury, the water was asked to be removed and dry the field and also were asked not to go for top dressing with any of the complexes instead application of Swarnaphal @10 kg/acre was suggested. To control FAW in maize, integrated pest management strategies involving installation of 8-10 pheromone traps per acre, spraying of Neem Oil 1500 ppm @1 litre per acre, Emamectin benzoate @ 80 g/acre or Chloranthriniprole @ 60 ml/acre were suggested. Panchayat Secretary, Smt. Sushmitha, Agricultural extension Officer, Sri. Lalitha, BTM, Sri. Ramya, Coromandel Staff, Sri. Devanand, Sri. Anil, Sri. Prem and around 65 farmers have participated in the programme.