A model training course on ‘Good Agricultural Practices For Alleviating Multi Nutrient Deficiencies In Soils And Plants’ was inaugurated at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) here today.

The eight-day course, offered at the department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, is aimed at middle-level extension officers of the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture across the country. Twenty extension officers participated in the training course. The course is sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, and will conclude on November 28.

Directorate of Natural Resource Management special officer Dr K Kumar said that soil health maintenance is vital for enhanced crop production. Due to the emerging multi nutrient deficiencies, the role of extension officials in transferring the nutrient management technologies to farmers assume greater significance; rejuvenation of organic carbon in soil, balanced and crop specific application of nutrients will pave the way for sustainable agriculture, he said.

Releasing the course book, TNAU Dean (Agriculture) Dr S Mahimairaja, insisted that the current situation was more precarious with rapidly shrinking land resources, burgeoning population, and deterioration of land and water quality due to industrial pollutants.

Hence, extension personnel have a pivotal role to play in the coming years, because technologies should not remain in books, he said. “‘Lab to land’ is our motto.”