The quality of farm soil can be found from home

 

Kathmandu. 

The government has introduced technology from Wednesday to enable farmers to know the quality of their land at home.

According to the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), farmers can find out the quality of land with the help of mobile phones and computers at home through digital soil maps of Nepal.

The map, claimed to be the first of its kind in South Asia, was inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday.

 

According to Nark, digital maps can be used to find out the various elements or properties in the soil through computer technology through GPS.

According to Nark, such a map has been prepared on the basis of soil results by conducting laboratory analysis through mathematical and statistical models of the elements in the soil and its effects on the environment.

What's on the map?

Internet users can access this map by going to www.soil.nark.gov.com.np. There is a map prepared on the basis of 23 thousand 273 soil samples from 56 districts across the country. The map is based on 168 of the environmental factors that play a role in determining soil properties based on satellite imagery.

"The map shows the type of soil in a particular geographical location. Also, the acidity of the soil, the amount of organic matter, the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash can be known". Deepak Bhandari said.

Similarly, farmers can know the amount of micronutrients, zinc and boron in the soil through maps.

Advantages to take

"Before doing any work related to agriculture, it is important for the farmer to know the quality of his land. Even now, farmers are compelled to go to the district headquarters or the office of the municipality to check the quality of the soil so that there is no misery in the agriculture. But after digital mapping of soil, farmers can avail this facility at home", said Nark.

Dr. Sri Prasad Bista, a senior soil scientist at the National Soil Science Center, says that farmers who know how to use internet and mobile app can use the same medium and those who don't know how to cultivate their land by calling.

The Ministry has stated that the facility will be provided to the farmers through this technology from all the lower levels under the Ministry of Agriculture including Narcus. Farmers will also get this service free of cost through Nark, the Ministry, the state-based agriculture office and the local agricultural knowledge center.

This technology is considered important for conducting large-scale agricultural projects, using new technology and seeds to cultivate the soil.

 

The digital soil map will also help in developing commercial agriculture, formulating policies on fertilizer requirements and treating the soil, Nark said.