Soil health cards for Gujarat farmers

Farmers of Gujarat will get more accurate rain forecasts and soil health cards from this year, the state agriculture and rural development minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma said on Tuesday.

Chudasma said 24 rain forecasting centers will be started this year across various regions of the state.

The centers will be set up in co-operation with the Columbia University. Listing the steps initiated for agriculture development, he said the government has deputed 742 agriculture scientists to talukas so as to ensure three scientists per taluka under the 'Lab to Land' programme.

These scientists will assist the farmers in improving yield and quality of land. The minister said the government has decided to give soil health cards to the farmers and 37 lakh soil health cards have been allotted so far.

The government will start open houses at the farmers' training centers and research centers, he said.

He said the NDDB will revive Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar and Kutch dairies by March 2004.