Students help farmers check soil in Ahmedabad

In 2005, the state government initiated a system of providing soil health cards to farmers so that they could find out the fertility of the soil on their land. Shortage of staff in the agriculture department made them select college students for soil testing and analysis.

In 2010, out of 45 lakh cards, seven lakh soil health cards were prepared by college students and in the following two years, three lakh cards were made by them.

According to college authorities, the initiative has helped students in many ways. The payment made by the government has helped students coming from poor families pay their fees. “I received Rs6,000 in the second semester which helped me pay the college fees of Rs4,000,” said Komel Sheikh, MSc student of BCJ College in Khambhat.

In 2010, Rs1.5 crore was allotted for students who did soil analysis. Colleges get Rs80 per sample out of which Rs20 is given to the student involved. “Students do analysis thrice a week for three hours each day,” said Dr Sushi Joshi, coordinator of Arts and Science College, Jamnagar.

He added that MSc (chemistry) students are mainly involved in soil testing. The process includes six steps, namely, sample preparation, organic carbon, phosphor testing, potassium testing, electrical conductance and gauging PH value.

While geology students would be benefited academically by this project, soil analysis is not given to them. “These students should also be involved in the programme as practical aspects of soil composition will be best understood by them,” said Dr RD Shah, head of the department, geology, MG Science College, Ahmedabad.

He added that soil analysis helps in knowing from which rock the soil is formed and the crops suitable to be grown in it.
On the importance of soil testing, KR Buhl, rtd assistant director of agriculture department and coordinator of soil health card programme in colleges said, “If the soil is good in potassium, it helps in colour and production of the crop. Likewise, every nutrient has its own importance and students get a hands-on experience while doing the soil analysis.” 

He said MSc (chemistry) students with a certificate in soil testing are preferred at placement time.

Meanwhile, the state government has expanded the analysis this year with introduction of micronutrient testing labs.