PUBLISHED | 15-04-2024

An Awareness-cum-Capacity Building programme on Quality Assurance of Soil Testing Labs under Soil Health Card Scheme envisioning the Slogan 'Swasth Dhara, Khet Haraa' - Healthy Earth, Green Farm was organized jointly by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Kolkata at Sasya Shyamala Krishi Vigyan Kendra (SSKVK), RKMVERI, Narandrapur today. Chief Guest Swami Shivapurnanandaji Maharaj, Assistant Administrative Head, IRDM, RKMVERI urged for a robust quality assurance scheme to achieve the objective of ensuring the quality and reliability of soil testing. He expressed his great satisfaction for organizing such timely event.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pradip Dey, Director of ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata emphasized that quality assurance scheme plays a vital role in promoting confidence in laboratory testing and calibration services by ensuring adherence to international standards and best practices. He added that quality assurance needs to be a primary concern if soil testing laboratories are to provide the farming community pertinent recommendations based on soil test results. Dr. Dey stressed that soil testing laboratories need to implement effective quality management systems that encompass policies, procedures, documentation, and controls to ensure the consistency and reliability of testing and calibration activities. Dr. Tamal Kanti Jana, State Agricultural Chemist in his address discussed about the implementation of soil health card scheme in the State. Ms. Malancha Das, Deputy Director, NABL, Kolkata while narrating the role of NABL said that NABL evaluates laboratories based on internationally recognized standards such as ISO/IEC 17025 for testing laboratories. Dr. R.K. Mandal, Lead Assessor, NABL discussed in details about the importance and protocols of Recognition/Accreditation of Soil Testing Laboratories. Dr. N.C. Sahu, Head, SSKVK, Narendrapur coordinated the whole programme. A total of 47 Soil Scientists/In-Charges of State Soil Testing Laboratories and other Laboratories belonging to SLUSI, Kolkata; ICAR-NINFET, Kolkata; SSKVK Narendrapur; KVK Nimpith; Vivekananda Institute of Biotechnology, Nimpith; ICAR-CSSRI RS, Canning Town; RKMVERI; Agricultural Training Centre, RKM, Narendrapur; State Soil Testing Laboratory, Tullygunj participated in the programme.