Scientists and farmers at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, V.C. Farm, in Mandya, during the Mandya District Cooperative Conference. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Farmers should prioritise soil health and adopt balanced fertilizer application based on soil testing to ensure sustainable agricultural production, said Dr.

C. Ramachandra, Director of Extension, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Mandya.He was speaking at the Mandya District Cooperative Conference organised recently at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), V.C.

Farm, Mandya, in collaboration with UAS, Mandya, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-KVK and the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO).Dr. Ramachandra, who presided over the programme, stressed the importance of soil and water testing to determine crop nutrient requirements.

Farmers should get their soil and water tested at the KVK and apply fertilizers in appropriate quantities based on the results, he said.Excessive and unnecessary fertilizer use not only increases cultivation costs but can also adversely affect soil fertility and crop yields. Farmers should understand soil characteristics and nutrient requirements and adopt balanced fertilization practices to preserve soil health for future generations, he added.Inaugurating the programme, Dr.

C. Narayanaswamy, state marketing manager, IFFCO, Bengaluru, said the farmer-owned cooperative had been serving the agricultural sector since its establishment in 1967.

The opening of IFFCO’s regional office in Mandya would improve farmers’ access to fertilizers, technical guidance and information on integrated nutrient management, he said.Pointing out that some raw materials required for manufacturing chemical fertilizers were imported, he said dependence on imports affected production costs. Farmers should determine crop nutrient requirements through soil testing and ensure the appropriate use of chemical and biofertilizers, he advised.Dr.

Atifa Munavvari, senior scientist and head of KVK, V.C. Farm, Mandya, said India currently produces about 376 million metric tonnes of food.

However, greater attention was needed to conserve soil health and maintain fertility, which are fundamental to sustainable agriculture.The conference highlighted soil health conservation, balanced fertilizer use, organic and biofertilizers, soil and water testing, and scientific farming practices.More than 80 farmers, including women farmers and youth from different taluks of Mandya district, participated in the programme.B. Chetan, Regional Manager, IFFCO, Mandya; Dr.

H.M. Mahesh, Assistant Chief Technical Officer at KVK; and Dr.

D.K. Suresh, Agricultural Extension Scientist at KVK, V.C.

Farm, Mandya, were present.