Rohit Kumar
Sri Vijaya Puram, 13 December 2024
Soil testing plays a crucial role in enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring environmental management. It helps assess essential soil characteristics such as nutrient content, pH levels, composition, and contamination, providing vital data for farmers and agronomists to make informed decisions about crop production and soil management.
In a significant move to strengthen soil testing standards, the Government of India mandates the recognition of government soil testing laboratories by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). This initiative aims to ensure that soil testing laboratories adhere to high standards, delivering reliable and accurate results that support soil health programs like the Soil Health Cards (SHC).
The Soil Testing Laboratory (STL) at Goal Ghar, Sri Vijaya Puram, under the Directorate of Agriculture, has achieved recognition from NABL for eight test parameters. This recognition follows the laboratory’s successful participation in a Proficiency Testing (PT) program conducted by an accredited PT provider, in line with ISO/IEC 17043 standards. The lab’s participation in PT programs over the past year contributed to this accomplishment. The achievement reflects the dedicated efforts of the team at STL, working under the leadership of the Director of Agriculture and the mentorship of the Secretary (Agri.), A&N Administration.
This recognition not only strengthens the laboratory’s capabilities but also underscores the administration’s commitment to advancing agricultural practices and standards in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
For the financial year 2024-25, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), INM Division, has set a target of collecting 10,000 soil samples across various villages in the region. A zone-wise target has been allocated, with staff authorised to collect soil samples using the SHC Mobile app from farmers’ fields. Farmers are encouraged to contact the Zonal Agriculture Office to have their soil collected and analysed, ensuring they receive a Soil Health Card with appropriate recommendations to enhance their agricultural practices.