Better Soil Health

Government is implementing Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme since 2015 to give soil test based fertilizer use recommendations periodically  to the farmers in the country.  Soil health card gives nutrient status of the soil along with prescription about balanced and integrated use of inorganic and organic fertilizers to maintain good soil health that results in increase in production. Apart from SHC, Government is also doing Soil Health Management (SHM) scheme to augment soil samples testing capacity in the country through setting up / strengthening of soil testing laboratories. So far, 11531 new labs (491 static, 107 mobile, 8811 mini labs and 2122 village level labs) and 829 labs have been given to the states. SHC based fertilizer use advisories are given to farmers from time to time. Demonstrations about proper and balanced use of fertilizers based on soil health card recommendations and training to the farmers on proper and integrated use of fertilizers are integral part of the scheme. Financial assistance is given to State Governments for training of farmers, demonstrations on farmer fields and organizing farmer melas. Since 2015, around 6.04 lakh demonstrations, 36928 farmer’s trainings and 7425 farmers melas are done under the programme. Along with state/ district agriculture machinery and panchayats, village level rural development workers like Krishi Sakhis, Pasu Sakhis are involved in educating farmers on right use of fertilizers. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) also imparts training, did front line demonstrations to educate farmers on this aspect.