Soil, water health cards for aquaculture farmers
This is the first time in the country, soil and water health cards are being issued in fisheries sector.
Update: 2015-12-20 06:25 GMT
Chennai: In a major step towards achieving sustainable aquaculture, especially shrimp farming, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) has begun the process of issuing ‘soil and water health cards’ to a group of 44 farmers hailing from Kanchipuram, Nagapattinam and Tiruvallur districts.
This is the first time in the country, soil and water health cards are being issued in fisheries sector. Early this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a similar scheme for agriculture farmers with a target of distributing 14 crore soil health cards over the span of next 3 years.
CIBA director Dr K.K. Vijayan told the Deccan Chronicle on the sidelines of a programme in Mahabalipuram that across the globe there is an increased attention towards nurturing the soil, which is
why 2015 is being observed as International Year of Soils.
Under the initiative, several Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) institutes, state agricultural universities, krishi vigyan kendras and state agricultural departments are being involved to
collect the samples from various farmer ponds and issue the soil and water health cards.
Dr Vijayan said the information provided in the cards are useful to farmers in understanding the nutrients status of the soils and water quality which will help in managing the pond soil and water parameters to the optimum.
The soil and water health cards records seven soil parameters and nine water parameters. Dr. P. Ravichandran, Member Secretary of Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) said that there is a strong chemical and feed suppliers lobby, which often misleads the farmers. He told the DC that CAA was trying to bring some regulations.
Muttukadu to have sophisticated testing centre: CIBA experimental station near Muttukadu on East Coast Road will shortly have a sophisticated testing centre for the benefit of hundreds of aquaculture farmers.
Dr Vijayan said that a project proposal has been already submitted to the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) for funding support. The project would cost Rs 1.5 crore. “It would also be a referral lab. The fishermen or shrimp farmers or have their feed or seed samples tested here for nominal fee to ensure better harvest. Even, hatcheries people can get their stocks tested.
Muttukadu would be an ideal location because of its easy accessibility. Though CIBA headquarters in Chennai has all the testing facilities, the farmers are finding it difficult to access”.
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