Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): In a major bid to prevent agricultural lands from turning barren and to make farmers self-reliant, the Haryana government has decided to purchase specialized “Organic Carbon Analysis” kits. These modern kits will enable precise testing of soil samples to determine the exact level of organic carbon present in individual agricultural fields across the state.
Haryana Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shyam Singh Rana, shared this information after presiding over a meeting of the High Powered Purchase Committee on Monday. The meeting was also attended by State Education Minister Mahipal Singh Dhanda and senior administrative officials, including Additional Chief Secretary of the Agriculture Department, Vijayendra Kumar. The committee approved the procurement of 332 organic carbon analysis kits, incurred at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore. These kits will be deployed across 106 state-run laboratories in Haryana to extensively evaluate the collected soil samples.
Highlighting the scientific standards of soil health, the Agriculture Minister explained that any fertile land must have a minimum organic carbon level between 0.5 percent and 0.75 percent to support healthy crop production, while an ideal and highly fertile soil profile requires a carbon level of 1 percent or above. Expressing concern over depleting soil quality, Rana warned that soil containing less than 0.5 percent organic carbon is classified as weak and deficient, as it progressively loses its natural capacity to transfer essential nutrients to plants.
Underscoring the critical role of organic carbon, the minister described it as the soul of the soil, serving as the primary source of nutrition for earthworms and beneficial microorganisms. Adequate organic carbon levels enhance the water-holding capacity of fields, allowing crops to withstand dry spells or low-water conditions. Furthermore, it binds essential macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, facilitating deep root development and naturally reducing the farmers’ dependency on chemical fertilizers. Rana reiterated that the state government’s ultimate objective is to liberate farmers from excessive chemical dependencies, paving the way for sustainable farming and a debt-free agrarian community.
