The Hindu Business Line : Bengal launches soil testing programme

Kolkata, Aug. 3 Expressing concern over the stagnancy in agricultural output, especially rice, both nationally and in West Bengal, the State Agriculture Minister, Mr Narendra Nath Dey, said here today that the State Government has launched a comprehensive soil testing exercise to find ways and means of increasing yield per hectare.

He said the mission is being conducted with the help of the National Institute of Soil Testing, and some 70,000 samples have been collected. The programme is expected to be completed by end 2008.

Speaking at the Assocham interactive meet on ‘Agricultural Biotechnology: Opportunities & Challenges’, the Minister said cultivable land in Bengal is now less than 3 per cent.

He said a scientific approach to farming, by way of agri biotechnology, is required to ensure food security of the population.

Genetic potential

Outlining the challenges before agriculture, especially in terms of productivity, Mr Atanu Purakayastha, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, said the genetic potential has reached a stagnant level.

“There is a need to use biotechnology to change the genetic material within the given agro-climatic conditions, as our agricultural yield has to go up for the sake of the whole country,” he pointed out.

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