Chief Minister Harish Rawat has announced to provide soil health cards to farmers of the state. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Veer Shiromani Madho Singh Bhandari Kisan Bhawan on Ring Road, Mussoorie Bypass Jogiwala, Rawat said farmers would be provided soil health cards which would help them to assess the quality of soil in the agriculture field. He said mobile soil testing would also be introduced, if required. He held that in order to strengthen agriculture in the state, it was important to identify new areas. Calling to preserve traditional ways of farming, the Chief Minister said saving agriculture was one of the greatest challenges before him. He said his government was committed to providing all possible facilities for farming and redress problems being faced by the farmers. He said special attention would be paid to land consolidation. Rawat said the state government had introduced a ‘Humara Pedh, Humara Dhan’ scheme and the bonus would be given on planting fodder yielding plants. The Chief Minister directed the officials of the Agriculture Department to prepare a project report on such produces of the state which give a unique identity to Uttarakhand. More progress must be made in the field of off-season vegetables. He also spoke about possibilities in organic farming. He said five herbal clusters would be developed in Garhwal and Kumaon districts. Similarly, vegetables cluster and farming cluster would also be developed. These clusters would be developed areawise so that farmers could get maximum benefit. Referring to the problems of state Agriculture Department employees related to the structure of cadre, he said the concerns would be resolved at the earliest. He held that Krishi Mandis would be strengthened. Kisan Bhawan which has been built on an expenditure of Rs 12 crore will provide all facilities to farmers under one roof. Farmers will be trained on regular intervals and there will be accommodation for about 100 farmers. The CM felicitated progressive farmers on the occasion. Seed Certification chairman Tilak Raj Beharh and Raipur MLA Umesh Sharma were present on the occasion.