At MPMT, we believe that healthy soil is the foundation of successful farming. To help our farming communities achieve optimal soil health and enhance their agricultural productivity, we organized a comprehensive orientation on soil sampling methods and testing in collaboration with the Soil and Fertilizer Testing Laboratory, Pokhara, Gandaki Province.

Program Overview

The orientation and testing program aimed to provide farmers with essential knowledge about soil sampling techniques and how to interpret soil test results. The event was held across multiple locations in Sahid Lakhan Rural Municipality (RM) and Gandaki RM, bringing together vegetable and coffee farmers to empower them with best practices in soil management.

Key Locations Visited:

• Sahid Lakhan RM: Chandeshwori Women Agriculture Cooperative, Tinmane; Maskichhap Youth Club Seminar Hall, Maskichhap.
• Gandaki RM: Ward number 2 seminar hall, Patiswara; Raniswara Magarath Homestay Community Hall, Raniswara; Suryodaya Women Group, Haitya, Bhumlichowk.

Program Objectives

• Enhance understanding of soil nutrient levels to improve fertilizer use.
• Recommend appropriate amount of agriculture lime to maintain soil pH.
• Promote sustainable soil management practices for better crop production.

Highlights of the Program

Our soil and technical experts guided the participants through the following steps:

• Demonstration of Soil Sampling Techniques: Hands-on training on how to collect soil samples correctly.
• Soil Testing and Analysis: Detailed analysis of soil samples for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content.
• Interpretation of Results: Explanation of how to use the soil test data to make informed decisions on fertilizer application.

Results at a Glance:

• Total Soil Samples Tested: 736
• Vegetable Farmers: 169 samples
• Coffee Farmers: 567 samples
• Nutrient Levels Identified:
• Nitrogen: High (34 samples), Medium (172 samples), Low (530 samples)
• Phosphorus: High (189 samples), Medium (215 samples), Low (332 samples)
• Potassium: High (86 samples), Medium (195 samples), Low (455 samples)
• Soil pH Levels: Acidic (424 samples), Neutral (308 samples), Basic (2 samples)

Our Facilitators

The success of the program was led by a team of experienced soil experts and local facilitators:

• Karishma Bhusal, Soil Expert, Khub Raj Baral, Senior Technical Assistant, Samikshya Gautam, Technical Assistant Soil and Fertilizer Testing Laboratory
• Local facilitators from Sahid Lakhan RM and Gandaki RM, including Adarsha Sigdel, Nabin Dhital, Manisha Khanal, Dipak Lamichhane, Abishekh Gurung, Tenjen Tamang, Ujwal Gurung, Anish Chepang, and Manish Shrestha.

Empowering Our Farming Communities

This orientation and soil testing program was not just an event it was a step towards sustainable agriculture. By equipping farmers with the skills to analyze their soil, we are helping them make smarter decisions that will lead to higher yields, reduced costs, and environmentally friendly farming practices.