- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare introduced the scheme in 2015.
- Soil Health Card Scheme (SHC) is a printed report which contains nutrient status of soil with respect to 12 nutrients: pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S), Zinc (Zn), Boron (B), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Copper (Cu) of farm holdings.
- SHC is provided to all farmers in the country at an interval of 3 years to enable the farmers to apply recommended doses of nutrients based on soil test values to realize improved and sustainable soil health and fertility, low costs and higher profits. Farmers can track their soil samples and also obtain their Soil Health Card report.
- It is a field-specific detailed report of soil fertility status and other important soil parameters that affect crop productivity.
Objectives of the SHC Scheme
The primary objectives of the Soil Health Card Scheme include improving soil fertility and promoting sustainable agriculture by providing farmers with specific soil health information.
- Regular assessment of soil health to monitor the nutrient status and ensure balanced use of fertilizers.
- Guiding farmers on the optimal use of fertilizers to prevent overuse and underuse, reducing the cost of farming.
- Encouraging the adoption of improved soil management practices based on soil health data.
Soil Health Card Scheme Funding Pattern
- The central government provides 60% of the funding for the Soil Health Card Scheme. This includes the cost of soil testing, data analysis, printing of soil health cards, and capacity building activities. The state government contributes 40% of the funding for the scheme.
- This includes the cost of implementing the scheme at the state level, setting up soil testing laboratories, and conducting awareness programs for farmers.
National Productivity Council
- It is a national-level organization to promote productivity culture in India.
- Established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India in 1958, it is an autonomous, multipartite, non-profit organization.
- Issuance of the Soil Health Cards has enabled the farmers to understand the soil health parameters and improve the productivity by judicious application of soil nutrients.
Key Points
- Under the Phase-I (2015-17) of the scheme, 10.74 crore cards were distributed, while under the Phase-II (2017-19), 11.69 crore cards have been distributed.
- A pilot project, ‘Development of Model Villages’ is also being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in the financial year 2019-20.
- It is to be noted that, this project is different from the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) which was launched in October 2014 with the goal of developing the socio-economic and physical infrastructure of villages.
Development of Model Villages
- Under this project, a Model Village is selected for aggregation of soil samples and analysis of each agricultural holding.
- The programme promotes farm holding based soil sample collection and testing with farmers’ participation.
- The Soil Health Card Scheme along with other projects(National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture) for soil health management has created jobs for the agrarian youth.
- Under these, village youth and farmers up to 40 years of age are eligible to set up Soil Health Laboratories and undertake testing.
- 75% of laboratory costs are proposed to be funded by the Central and State Governments.
- The same provision applies to Self Help Groups, Farmers’ Cooperative Societies, Farmers Groups and Agricultural Producing Organisations.
Importance of the Soil Health Card Scheme
The Soil Health Card Scheme is very important for sustainable farming and rural development. Here’s why it matters:
- Soil Health Management: The scheme helps manage soil health, which is crucial for agricultural productivity. It prevents soil degradation, erosion, and nutrient loss, ensuring that farming remains viable in the long run.
- Precision Agriculture: The Soil Health Card provides specific recommendations for farmers. They can adjust their farming methods to use resources efficiently, increase crop yields, and reduce waste. This helps make agriculture more sustainable.
- Knowledge Transfer: The scheme connects farmers with scientific knowledge and the latest practices for soil health management. It ensures that farmers have access to important information and helps them stay updated.
- Farmer Empowerment: By giving farmers information about their soil’s health and how to improve it, the scheme empowers them to make informed decisions. Farmers become active participants in sustainable agriculture and take charge of their farming practices.
- Government Support: The Soil Health Card Scheme shows that the government cares about farmers and agriculture. It demonstrates their commitment to addressing soil degradation and promoting sustainable farming practices.
