Awareness Campaign on Soil Test-Based Balanced Nutrient Management Organised at Dhargal Village, Goa under Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav

ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra, North Goa, under the aegis of ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, organised an awareness campaign on Soil Test-Based Balanced Nutrient Management at Dhargal, the adopted village under the “Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav” programme, in North Goa on May 9, 2026, under the Intensive Campaign on Soil Health Management and Balanced Use of Fertilizers. The programme aimed to create awareness among farmers about the importance of soil testing, judicious fertilizer application, and balanced nutrient management for sustainable crop production and long-term soil health improvement. Participants were sensitised to the role of soil analysis in identifying nutrient deficiencies and adopting crop-specific fertilizer recommendations to enhance productivity, reduce unnecessary input costs, and minimise environmental degradation. Dr. N. Bommayasamy, Senior Scientist & Head, IAR-KVK, North Goa highlighted the significance of soil testing in improving farm productivity and soil sustainability. He explained that soil analysis provides valuable information on the nutrient status of soils, enabling farmers to correct deficiencies before they adversely affect crop growth and yield. He further stated that soil test-based fertilizer application supports informed nutrient management decisions, reduces risks of soil degradation, nutrient imbalance, and erosion, and enhances long-term farm profitability. He urged farmers to undertake soil testing before the commencement of the Kharif season and apply balanced doses of fertilizers based on scientific recommendations. Dr. S. V. Udharwar, SMS (Animal Science) briefed the participants on the effective utilization of animal-based organic manures such as Ghanajeevamrit and Jeevamrit for enriching soil biodiversity and promoting sustainable crop production. He emphasized the role of organic nutrient sources in improving soil microbial activity and maintaining soil fertility under Goa’s high-rainfall conditions. Dr. Nivya K. R. SMS (Floriculture and Land Scaping), explained that blanket fertilizer recommendations often fail to address location-specific soil fertility conditions and may lead to either underuse or excessive application of fertilizers. She stressed the importance of adopting soil test-based nutrient management for achieving balanced fertilization and efficient utilization of available soil nutrients. The farmers actively interacted with the scientists and clarified their doubts related to nutrient management and soil health practices. A total of 21 participants, including 13 male and 8 female farmers, attended the programme and benefited from the awareness campaign.