Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar celebrated World Soil Day gloriously by demonstrating soil testing and distributed critical inputs at Adopted Village, Perkapally, Saidapur (M) on 5th December, 2020

An awareness and demonstration programme was organized at Gram Panchayat Office of Perkapally of Saidapur Mandal on 5th December, 2020 on the eve of World Soil Day by the Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. Dr. G.Usharani Scientist (Pl.Br.) and Adopted Village Incharge welcomed all the dignitaries and farmers. Dr. G. Manjulatha Principal Scientist (Agro.) and Head chaired the event and highlighted the immense need of keeping the soil alive for protecting the soil biodiversity that aims to proactively raise awareness of the importance of improving soil health, sustaining healthy ecosystems, human well being and fighting soil biodiversity loss. To practically illuminate the farmers on this occasion, soil samples were collected from two different types of locations and soils of the farmers, Sri. P.Srinivas and Sri. V.Ramesh and soil analysis was demonstrated to them to show them the critical differences that could be observed by soil analysis. The results were shown to the farmers and accordingly the fertilizers recommendations were informed to them. In this context it was also announced that the Soil Fertility Maps for the village would be soon prepared as early as the soil samples from throughout the village will be obtained for analysis. The critical inputs of slender varieties of paddy released variety of Kunaram- Kunaram Rice-1 (KNM 733) and third year minikit culture KNM-1638 which is performing pretty well in many of the Districts are distributed in this village as four each of 5kg packings of seed. This helps the farmers to know about the performance of these varieties in this season such that they can take up on a large scale in the upcoming seasons based on their opinions on the varieties. The meeting concluded finally with the theme of keeping soil alive and protecting soil biodiversity. The Sarpanch Sri. B.Komaraiah, Deputy Sarpanch Sri. Potharaju Srinivas and around 50 farmers participated in the programme and interacted with the scientists regarding cultivation aspects of crops pertaining to the forthcoming rabi season.