Haliyal: District In-charge Minister R V Deshpande stated that a soil testing centre has been set up at Agriculture produces Marketing Committee (APMC) premises in the town and hence farmers should test the soil in their farms before cultivating crops.

He was speaking at inauguration of newly-set up soil testing laboratory, jointly organised by the JK Cement EID Pyari Sugars under the Corporate Social Responsibility, Taluk Administration, and Agriculture Department at APMC in the town on Sunday.

He said, the State government has implemented many projects to facilitate the farmers and called upon farmers to take care of their agriculture land by providing water, fertilisers in regular intervals and to conduct soil testing.

Already a soil testing centre is working in Haliyal under CSR project. Hence, farmers should contact agriculture departments to conduct soil testing, he added. Meanwhile, he informed that Rs 1.20 crore has been sanctioned for concrete road construction in APMC premises. A proposal has been sent to sanction Rs 90 lakh for the construction of concrete road in main market area, Rs 50 lakh under RVY project, Rs one crore for Haliyal under WIF and Rs 50 lakh for Joida, he added. The construction process will be taken up as soon as the grants release and tender process will be completed, he assured.

Later, Minister Deshpande distributes agriculture equipment including 2500 additional plastic covers, five mini tractors, 15 power trailer, 1000 sprinklers, which worth RS 85 lakh to the beneficiaries.

Speaking on the occasion, MLC S L Ghotnekar said, the State government is working for the overall development of all communities and it has kept all its promises.

Tank filling scheme is being executed spending Rs 225 crore from river Kali. Everyone should be economically stable and the government is facilitating people through various developmental projects, he added.