NABARD to establish soil testing labs in 26 J&K schools

Srinagar, Oct 4: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is setting up soil testing labs in schools, offering students a valuable opportunity to excel in agro-entrepreneurship.

The project, implemented by NAB Foundation, a NABARD subsidiary, will be rolled out in two phases with a total financial outlay of Rs 12 crore.

As part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's School Soil Health Program under the Integrated Nutrition Management (INM) initiative, NABARD has sanctioned grant assistance for the establishment of 1,000 Mini Soil Testing Labs across schools in India.

In Jammu and Kashmir, 26 such labs will be established—15 in the Jammu region and 11 in Kashmir—covering Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Navodaya Vidyalayas, and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).

The programme may later be extended to other government-run schools based on its success.

Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Surinder Singh, Deputy General Manager of NABARD, stated that the project will involve schoolchildren, connecting them practically with the agriculture sector. "We have trained two teachers and selected students in each school to act as ambassadors for this initiative," he said.

NAB Foundation will equip these schools with modern digital soil testing analyzers and 50 free testing kits for each school, available during both the Kharif and Rabi seasons.

Initially, farmers will be able to access these services free of cost, with a nominal fee introduced later.

The initiative aims to cover approximately 20,000 hectares, offering farmers comprehensive soil health testing facilities.

Beyond soil testing, the project will foster agro-entrepreneurship and provide students with practical knowledge in soil sciences. "Students will participate in soil sampling, testing, and interpreting soil health cards, gaining valuable insights into soil nutrition management and its agricultural importance," said Rouf Ahmad Zargar, District Development Manager of NABARD.

He emphasised that the project will promote sustainable farming practices, encouraging students to adopt and advocate for these methods in the future.

"This hands-on approach will build a strong educational foundation in soil science, benefiting students academically and personally," Zargar added. The project is expected to educate between 50,000 and 100,000 students on soil health, significantly impacting future generations of farmers and agricultural professionals.

Its primary goal is to curb the excessive use of fertilizers by farmers and raise awareness about soil health.