Soil Management

Objectives

Strengthening Soil Health is an important part of increased productivity and quality. According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Strategic Plan (2013-2020), soil health is a priority area that will be implemented mainly by NAREI, GUYSUCO, and GRDB. NAREI will be the Focal Point for this priority area.

Through an awareness and education campaign inform farmers about the importance of soil health and soil testing;

Develop on-farm fertilizer production system, e.g. vermicomposting as a model on-farm fertilizer system;

Ensure field/extension personnel are equipped with basic soil testing tools;

Encourage the use of inoculant, green manure, and mycorrhizae in farms;

Develop liming requirements for agriculture soils;

Conduct studies to determine the nutrient status of soils to promote Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) for soils;

Investigate the impact of micro-nutrients on crop production;

Establish weed control measures for field crops such as corn, soya, and beans;

Training and technical awareness programs developed on ISM and IPNM;

And, develop program for GIS mapping of agriculture soil and match soil profile with crop profile.