Mysuru: Thousands of farmers in South Kodagu now look forward to better yield as Gonikoppal gets a new digital soil testing centre. The Coffee Board launched the testing centre last week following demands of farmers and growers.

Earlier, farmers of Virajpet taluk had to travel 50 to 70 kms to give soil for testing centres at Chettalli and Koodige and both the centres are in Somwarpet Taluk. Farmers in Virajpet were deprived of a testing centre.

Coffee Board Senior Liaison Officer said it took two hours to find the potential of hydrogen (PH) value of soil and five hours to find nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) in soil.