THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Department of Soil Survey and Soil Conservation, in connection with International Year of Soils, has come out with a web-based Microlevel Information System on Soil of Kerala (MISSK), which helps in providing information on all aspects of soil on plot basis. Governor P Sathasivam will inaugurate MISSK on May 27 at the VJT hall here.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan, Health Minister V S Sivakumar, Mayor Chandrika, Department of Soil Survey and Soil Conservation Director P N Premachandran and Kerala Agriculture University Vice-Chancellor P Rajendran will be present.
The Micro-level information system will provide information on 24 layers in GIS platform such as soil series, soil texture, soil depth, slope, erosion, status, present land use, paddy land conversion status, soil fertility, status of major secondary and micro nutrients, land capability class, land irrigability class, conservation priority and crop suitability.
In the first phase, information of 88 panchayats of Thrissur and 26 panchayats of Wayanad district have been generated. The information is made available to all stakeholders through the website www.keralasoils.gov.in.
One of the main objectives of MISSK is to to help farmers manage their land by understanding its potentials and limitations. It also enables planners, administrators and researchers to formulate micro-level plans by proper understanding of the status of the resource base of a region.
It will help the farmers and extension workers for selection of potential crops for the farm holdings, reclamation of problem soils, selection and use of correct agriculture inputs and use of suitable agriculture machineries and tools.
The Micro level information system will also enable the government in making policy decisions at the micro level.