Mr. R.K.Gupta, Executive Director, Bank of Maharashtra, a Leading Public Sector Bank launched Soil and Water Health Card for farmers through Mahabank Agriculture Research & Rural Development Foundation (MARDEF).
It is to help farmers to increase soil productivity byproper use of fertilizers, and which will help them to identify the nutrient status of their farm lands. The effort comes as lakhs of farmers in Maharashtra stare at anenormous drought this year. The state-focused lender has already spend 500 cards in Bhigwan, Pune through Mahabank Agricultural Research And Rural Development Foundation (MARDEF).This is to supplement the efforts of NarendraModi for focusing attention on the health of soil in agricultural areas to boost productivity.
Bank of Maharashtra is the only bank in the Country providing this facility and every farmer should take benefit of this scheme and obtain Soil & Water Health Card. This will help to know level of nutrients available in the soil of their farms & accordingly corrective amount of fertilizers can be given.
The bank along with Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers is analyzing soil samples at its Soil Testing Lab in Bhigwan.Facility of analyzing Micro Nutrients will also be made available shortly at this center. Soil Testing Lab at Bhigwan, Pune, Mahabank is analyzing soil & water samples of farmers.Annually more than 10,000 samples are tested. This has helped the farmers in the surrounding area of four districts to know health of their soil & water and to improve the health of soil.
Dr. RamchandraSabale, Meteorologist & Trustee of the MARDEF said that, Farmers should change their cropping pattern according to climate change, which is directly affecting the rainfall.Hon’ble Prime Minister has launched Mudra Loan Scheme with aim to fund Micro/Small enterprises engaged in all non-farm activities whose credit needs are up toRs. 10.00 lakh. Bank is also offering Mudra Loans at competitive rates @ 10 % p.a. and no processing charges are levied up to Rs.5.00 lakh.
