ICAR-ATARI and NABL Jointly Organized an Awareness-cum-Capacity Building Program on Quality Assurance of Soil Testing Labs

To strengthen the quality assurance of soil testing laboratories under the Soil Health Card Scheme, an informative and capacity-building initiative was recently organized jointly by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and ICAR-ATARI at the Sasya Shyamala Krishi Vigyan Kendra, RKMVERI, Narandrapur. The event, held on April 15, 2024, aimed at ensuring the reliability and credibility of soil testing procedures, aligning with the theme 'Swasth Dhara, Khet Haraa' - translating to Healthy Earth, Green Farm.

The session was attended by eminent personalities including Swami Shivapurnanandaji Maharaj, Assistant Administrative Head of IRDM, RKMVERI, who highlighted the necessity of a robust quality assurance mechanism to uphold the standards of soil testing. His endorsement of the event underscored its timely significance.

Dr. Pradip Dey, the Director of ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, stressed the pivotal role of quality assurance in instilling confidence in laboratory services. Dr. Dey highlighted the importance of adopting international standards and best practices within soil testing laboratories to ensure consistent and reliable outcomes.

State Agricultural Chemist, Dr. Tamal Kanti Jana, shed light on the implementation status of the soil health card scheme within the state, showcasing practical insights into its execution and impact.

Malancha Das, Deputy Director of NABL, Kolkata, emphasized NABL's evaluation criteria based on globally recognized standards such as ISO/IEC 17025 for testing laboratories, signalling a push towards harmonized practices.

Empowering Through Knowledge Sharing

The training session witnessed active participation from 47 attendees, reflecting the collective commitment towards enhancing the quality of soil testing services across various agricultural sectors.

Events like these are instrumental in fostering a culture of quality consciousness within our agricultural frameworks. By equipping soil testing laboratories with standardized protocols and cutting-edge practices, we pave the way for sustainable agriculture and a greener tomorrow.