Bylakuppe: Organic Research & Training Centre, Unit of the Central Tibetan Relief Committee of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (CTRC), Department of Home, CTA had organized 3 days Training on “The soil health and watershed management” at District Agriculture Training Centre (DATC), Mysuru, Karnataka and Collage of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Bangalore at Mandya for the AEO’s of Tibetan Agricultural settlement in India and Agriculture officers of Organic Research and Training (ORTC), Bylakuppe.
The training’s inaugural ceremony was graced by chief guest Dr. Dhananjenay, Head of District Agriculture Centre (DATC) Naganahalli, Mysuru Distict, Karnataka State by lighting the lamp along with Dr. Yogesh G.H., Deputy Director of Agriculture, Karnataka Agriculture Department of Agriculture, Bangalore and Mr. Tsering Dorjee la, Director, ORTC, a unit of Central Tibetan Relief Committed of Department of Home, CTA, Bylakuppe.
The DATC Director in his speech stressed on the importance of soil fertility, soil conservation, organic carbon as well as conservation of water. He also expressed mismanagement or not managing water issues leads to major soil erosion which we have recently witnessed in Kerala flood that was catastrophic. Additionally, he is very optimistic about this training would be fruitful and helpful to all the AEO’s from different Tibetan settlements.
The aim of this training was to equip AEO’s with the necessary knowledge on Soil Health and Watershed management for further dissemination of the knowledge to Tibetan farmers to improve soil health and Soil and water conservation for sustainable agriculture development and natural resource management.
The training was focus on following subjects:
On first day, Dr. S S Prakash Retd Soil Scientist Dean, college of agriculture, VC farm Mandya had thought AEO’s on Soil types, characteristics and principle of soil health and Dr. Yogesh G H, Soil and Water conservation expert, Ex-Head of DATC Naganahalli, Mysuru, Dr. Thimme Gowda Professor, Agronomy and head of GKVK Bangalore taken on Role of Organic carbon in soil health management, Practice to improve organic carbon in soils
On Second day, Dr. Suma R. Associate professor and Head College of agriculture VC farm Mandya had had taken Soil sampling, Nutrient deficiency symptoms, soil test-based fertilizer recommendation, Types of fertilizers and fertilizer calculation and soil mapping of the state and villages. Dr. Asha N. Assistant professor, college of Agriculture VC farm Mandya, took “Role of Bio-fertilizers, usage in improving the soil health and crop productivity.” Dr. Suma R and Dr. Asha N have shown us their labs and Bio-fertilizer production units in VC farm.
Dr. Ananth Kumar took “Management of problematic soils, Alkaline soils and Sodic soils and field visit at Zonal Agriculture Research Staion(ZARS) which is near VC Farm, Mandya.
On third day, Dr. Yogesh G H, Soil and Water conservation expert and training coordinator and Agriculture Officer has taken us to see project implement by Agriculture Department on Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) at Gundulpert village, Mysuru. And shown us the different SWC and he explained details on soil and water conservation structure constructed by the project. He also explained AEO’s query on soil & water conservation in details.
The soil health and watershed management training was a success, with participants gaining valuable knowledge and skills that will contribute to the sustainable management of watersheds. The training emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to improve soil health and watershed management. The participants had exposure visits to the practices of watershed managements like check-dams, TCB (Trench Cum Bunds) Ponds, Lakes etc.
This training was organized by ORTC with technical assistance by DATC Naganahalli, Muysuru, Karnataka and funded by Funded by USAID through The Tibet Fund.
