Being a farmer-centric cooperative, Vitthal Ganga focuses on providing integrated agricultural practices, such as testing the water and soil health, along with understanding the impact of chemical residue on the produce – namely fruits and vegetables in this case.
Accurate amount of fertiliser and water saves not only thousands of rupees, but it also increases the crop productivity, resulting in achieving maximum return. One of the biggest obstacles in exporting fruits and vegetables is chemical residue. Every year millions of dollars is lost due to inaccurate test results and shipment rejection by purchaser overseas.
As chemical residue testing facility is not available in the vicinity for our framers, Vitthal Ganga decided to establish a world-class laboratory for our members, offering low cost and precise testing results, right at Tembhurni. This enables farmers to identify various issues proactively, and address them to reap maximum quality yield.
At Vitthal Ganga, this specialized work is being conducted by the Central Agricultural Testing Laboratory (CATL), an in-house laboratory established by the cooperative with the aim to provide soil, water and chemical residue testing facility to the member farmers at low-cost. These analyses are conducted with the use of latest technology, world-class equipment for quick and precise testing and reporting.
The testing solution – provided at a competitive price point – also enables the members to undertake efficient fertilizer and pest control management.
Some of the salient features of the testing facility include:
- Undertaking soil testing of the agricultural land at competitive pricing
- Undertaking testing of irrigation water quality
- Providing recommendation on managing fertility and using fertilizer
- Providing guidance to reclaim soil and other technical help
- Training and educating farmers on various testing facilities
The lab has the capacity to test thousands of samples all over the area, along with the facility to conduct regular field visits to interact with the farmers in the region and understand their requirements. Such a service is especially essential for lands that are saline or alkaline in nature, where commercial vegetables and fruits are being grown. This will help the farmers understand the nutritional requirement of their land in a scientific manner.
It is important for farmers to manage the soil and water quality, along with finding out the effect of chemical residue on their farmland to ensure quality food production. As soil and water are diverse from one area to another, it is important to create a comprehensive strategy to learn about the nutrients available in the region and how to utilize them optimally.
Healthy soil, quality water and chemical-free land ensure growth of quality produce, and that’s the promise of Vitthal Ganga to all its member farmers.