West Bengal agriculture minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay has asked the scientists and officials of State Agricultural Research Institute to work with utmost sincerity and that under no circumstances should the quality be compromised.
Mr Chattopadhyay visited the research institute, situated in Bansdroni, and spent the whole day holding meetings with the scientists and officials. This is the country’s oldest research institute.
The research institute has three wings, namely soil testing laboratory, seed testing laboratory and fertilizer testing laboratory.
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Soil samples are collected through the assistant directors of agriculture, FPOs/ FPCs at the block level or field level.
The soil samples are examined and then soil cards are issued to the farmers. There is an arrangement to send the cards at the doorstep of the farmers. Mr Chattopadhyay said testing the soil was absolutely necessary and the results should mention what kind of vegetables or paddy is best suited to be grown on the soil.
There is a seed testing laboratory, where seeds are tested to ensure good quality and healthy seeds. The results are certified by the seed certification officer and the farmers are allowed to buy seeds which are cleared by the officer. Mr Chattopadhyay said the quality of seeds is very important and under no circumstances can the quality be compromised.
Mr Chattopadhyay said the fertilizer laboratory is very important. He said often bad quality fertilizers cause various diseases and this is very important to test the quality of the fertilizers.
“I have made this very clear that we cannot compromise with the quality of fertilizers and no inferior quality fertilizers can be used.” Mr Chattopadhyay said in future he would again visit the research laboratory to oversee the work.
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