Context-A study conducted by the National Productivity Council (NPC) says the application of Soil Health Card recommendations has led to a decline of 8-10% in use of chemical fertilizers and also raised productivity by 5-6%.

Key points

• Under the Central Government’s Soil Health Card Scheme Phase-I (Years 2015 to 2017) 10.74 crore cards were distributed, while under the Phase-II 11.69 crore cards have been give away during the period 2017-19.
• In the current financial year a pilot project “Development of Model Villages” is being implemented under which the sampling and testing of cultivable soil is being encouraged in partnership with the farmers. Under the project a Model Village has been selected for aggregation of soil samples and analysis of each agricultural holding.
• As part of the scheme 13.53 lakh Soil Health Cards have been distributed during the year 2019-20.
• For the setting up of Soil Health Laboratories under the scheme the states have been sanctioned 429 static labs, 102 new mobile labs, 8,752 mini labs, 1,562 village-level laboratories and strengthening of 800 existing labs.
• 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.
• The scheme provides for the analysis of soil composition by the State Governments once in every two years so that remedial steps can be taken to improve soil nutrients. Farmers can track their soil samples and also obtain their Soil Health Card report.
• While the Soil Health Management Scheme has turned out to be a blessing for the farmers, it is also creating jobs for the agrarian youth. Under the scheme village youth and farmers up to 40 years of age are eligible to set up Soil Health Laboratories and undertake testing. A laboratory costs up to Rupees Five Lakhs, 75% of which can be funded by the Central and State Governments. The same provisions apply to Self Help Groups, Farmers’ Cooperative Societies, Farmers Groups and Agricultural Producing Organisations.
• Interested youth farmers and Organisations can submit their proposals either in person to the Deputy Director (Agriculture) / Joint Secretary (Agriculture) or in their offices in respective districts.

What is Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme?

• It is a Government of India’s scheme promoted by the Department of Agriculture & Co-operation under the Ministry of Agriculture. It will be implemented through the Department of Agriculture of all the State and Union Territory Governments. A SHC is meant to give each farmer soil nutrient status of his holding and advice him on the dosage of fertilizers and also the needed soil amendments,that heshould apply to maintain soil health in the long run.

What is a Soil Health Card?

• SHC is a printed report thata farmer will be handed over for each ofhis holdings. It will contain the status of his soil with respect to 12 parameters, namely N,P,K (Macro-nutrients) ; S (Secondary-nutrient) ; Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo (Micro-nutrients) ; and pH, EC, OC (Physical parameters). Based on this, the SHC will also indicate fertilizer recommendations and soil amendment requiredfor the farm.

How can a farmer use a SHC?

• The card will contain an advisory based on the soil nutrientstatus of a farmer’s holding. It will show recommendations on dosage of different nutrients needed. Further, it will advise the farmeron the fertilizers and their quantities he should apply, and also the soil amendments that he should undertake, so as to realize optimal yields

Will the farmer get acard every year and for every crop?

• It will be made available once ina cycle of 3 years,which willindicate the status of soil health of a farmer’s holding for that particular period. The SHC given in the next cycle of 3 years will be able to record the changes in the soil health for that subsequent period.

What are the norms of sampling?

• Soil samples will be drawn in a grid of 2.5 ha in irrigatedarea and 10 ha in rain-fed area with the help of GPS tools and revenue maps.

Who will draw the soil sample?

• The State Government will collect samples throughthe staff of their Department ofAgriculture orthrough the staff of an outsourcedagency. The State Government may also involve the students oflocal Agriculture/ Science Colleges.

What is the ideal time for soil sampling?

• Soil Samples are taken generally two times in a year, after harvesting of Rabi and Kharif Crop respectively or when there is no standing crop in the field.

How will soil samples becollected from a farmer’s field?

• Soil Samples will be collected by a trainedperson from adepth of 15-20 cm by cutting the soil in a “V” shape. It will be collected from four corners and the centre of the field and mixed thoroughly and a part of this picked up as a sample. Areas with shade will be avoided.The sample chosen will be bagged and coded. It will then be transferred to soil test laboratoryfor analysis.

What is a soil test laboratory?

• It is a facility for testing the soil sample for 12 parameters as indicated in reply to question number 2. This facility can be staticor mobile or it can even be portable to be used in remote areas.

Who and Where will the soil sample be tested?

• The soil sample will be tested as per the approved standardsfor all the agreed 12 parameters in the following way:
• At the STLs owned by the Department of Agriculture and by their own staff.
• At the STLs owned by the Department of Agriculture but by the staff of the outsourced agency.
• At the STLs owned by the outsourced agency and by their staff.
• At ICAR Institutions includingKVKs and SAUs.
• At the laboratories of the Science Colleges/Universities by the students under supervision of a Professor/ Scienti