Mokokchung, 9 October (MTNews): The Department of Soil and Water Conservation, Mokokchung recently undertook the distribution of Soil Health Cards (SHC) and Micronutrients to the farming communities across various villages within Mokokchung district. This initiative carried out on the 6th, 7th, and 9th of October 2023, is part of the SHC scheme under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.
The process involved collecting soil samples from farmers’ fields and subjecting them to thorough testing to assess the soil’s fertility status. Based on the testing results, the specific micronutrient requirements were determined and subsequently provided to the farmers. The findings indicated a prevalent deficiency in micronutrients in the soils, making it essential to address these deficiencies to maximize crop production.
To date, the district has successfully distributed a total of 2092 SHCs and micronutrient packages to nine villages during the 2020-21 period. This was followed by another distribution to nine villages, amounting to 1800 SHCs and micronutrient packages during the 2022-23 season. The future plan is to extend this program to an additional nine villages during 2023-24, covering a grand total of 27 villages within the district.
The recommended application method for micronutrients is to mix one tablespoon of the micronutrient substance with one liter of water. This mixture can be applied through various methods, including soil drenching, drip irrigation, or foliar spray, at intervals of 15 days. The micronutrients used in this program are organic and consist of Boron, Manganese, Iron, Copper, Zinc, and Molybdenum.