Ranichauri - Agricultural Meteorology Division

5. To reduce ground water pollution6. To improve the quality of ground water7. To reduce the soil erosion8. To supplement domestic water requirement during summer, drought etc.The major advantages of rain water harvesting are1. Provides self-sufficiency to your water supply2. Reduces the cost for pumping of ground water3. Provides high quality water, soft and low in minerals4. Reduces soil erosion in hilly and urban areas5. The rooftop rain water harvesting is less expensive6. Rooftop rain water harvesting systems are easy to construct, operate and maintainDr. Chandra Dev talked about the different crop rotations with the cost involved in packageof practices as well as agricultural operations to be carried out during the crop growing period i.e.kharif & rabi seasons in perspectives of climate change with improved practices along with theirbenefits accrued over the traditional practices in vogue as well as cost benefit ratio of different croprotations (cereals, oil seeds, pulses and vegetable crops) being followed in the region and hesuggested about growing of short duration and more profitable vegetable crops viz. capsicum, radish,veg. pea, cabbage, french bean etc. which can be grown easily keeping in view the weatherconditions prevailing in the region since this region are most suitable for off season vegetable cropswhich fetches high remuneration to the farmers.Dr. B K Khanduri Assistant Professor (Social Science) & Programme Officer (NSS) gavethe description in brief about the different programme organized by National Service Scheme,College of Forestry & Hill Agriculture, Hill Campus, Ranichauri in villages for the awareness of thefarmers as well as general public viz. Plantation Work, Awareness on National Literacy Mission,Environment Day, Children Education, Water Harvesting and Conservation etc with theirimportance. He also talked about the importance of vegetables in human dietary system and advisedto consume more vegetable in diet to improve their health as well as their economic wellnessobtained through selling of produce in the markets located nearby and in plains during off season.Dr Sachan delivered a lecture on soil testing management in relation to climate change. Hetold about the soil testing, its objective and its necessity in present day scenario and the method ofsoil sampling. The farmers were told that 15 cm depth hole is dug in the soil, through khurpi or kutlaand all the soil is taken out from that hole. This practice is done at 4 to 5 places in a one nali area.