Enterprise level GIS based system for soil and water analysis of 69 tehsils of Punjab has been developed by the Soil Fertility Research Institute (SFRI), Lahore. This was told to Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Azmat Ali Ranjha during his visit of Soil Fertility Research Institute.
Dr Noor-ul-Islam, Director General Agriculture (Research), Naeem Khalid, Deputy Secretary Planning, Dr Shehzada Munawar Mehdi, Director Soil Fertility Research Institute and other officials of Agriculture Department were also present.
Director Soil Fertility in his briefing said that more than 13000 samples of fertilisers have been analysed by institute during last 5 years in fertiliser adulteration control campaign launched by Punjab government.
He further told that more than 6.8 million samples of soil, water and fertilisers were analysed by this institute since its inception. He also added that 3.4 million soil whereas 302488 water samples of farmers have also been analysed by this institute to provide them advisory services. He told that 59098 field trials of grain crops, cash crops, fodders, oil seeds and fruits & vegetables were also conducted for research work and to prepare recommends to enhance production of all major crops.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab said that a project costing to Rs 76.437 million for development of digitised profile for agriculture land in Punjab is being executed by Agriculture Department to develop spatial data base for soil-climate suitability for crops, vegetables and fruits in 114 targeted tehsils.
He said that farmers should make best use of facilities of soil, water and fertiliser analysis being provided by Punjab government at tehsils level to enhance their production.
He said that these facilities are being provided by Punjab government at nominal rates of Rs 5 for water, Rs 1 for soil and Rs 100 for fertiliser analysis. He also visited different labs of Soil Fertility Research Institute and got feedback from scientists working in these labs.
Later on Secretary Agriculture Punjab also visited Water Management Training Institute (WMTI) and Agriculture engineering workshop where he was briefed about drip & sprinkler irrigation models and laser land levelling units by Director General Agriculture (Water Management).
