Chennai: The money that the government saved by reducing the fertiliser subsidy should be ploughed into research in improving the soil health to reap long-term benefits, says renowned agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan.

Calling for a soil health enhancement movement, Swaminathan advocates setting up more laboratories for testing micronutrients like zinc and boron and the issue of Soil Health Cards to farmers. “Thus, the efficiency of the use of nutrients can be greatly enhanced, thereby reducing the quantity of urea, DAP and other mineral fertilisers needed for high yields.”

Welcoming the budget unveiled by Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, he says funds are also needed to promote organic farming. “Our agricultural competitiveness needs to be enhanced very considerably and this calls for major additional investment. This is why I feel that any money saved from the support to farmers should be utilised to assist farmers to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability of agriculture.”

On the emphasis given in the budget to greenhouse horticulture and precision farming, Swaminathan says diversification is essential for value addition to the time and labour of rural women and men.

“The economic survey points out that we are entering an era of jobless growth since the rate of growth of employment on the current daily status has declined from 2.7 per cent per annum (pa) in 1983-1994 to 1.07 per cent pa in 1994-2000. Much of the employment growth has to take place in the farm sector. Farming systems diversification and value addition are essential for promoting job-led economic growth,” he adds.

Hi-tech horticulture involves cultivation of vegetables, fruits and flowers under greenhouse conditions using fertigation techniques of feeding the plants. Fertigation implies mixing nutrients with irrigation water and delivering it through a drip irrigation system.

“Precision farming involves giving inputs at the right time and in right quantity. This will lead to the more efficient and economical use of macro- and micronutrients and plant protection chemicals,” he sums up.