Soil Health Card Scheme

Slogan: Swasth Dharaa. Khet Haraa. - Healthy Earth. Green Farm

Why do we need it?

• Farming as an activity contributes nearly 1/6^th of our GDP and a majority of our population is dependent on it for their livelihood. 
• Deteriorating soil health has been a cause of concern and that has been leading to sub optimal utilization of farming resources.  
• Imbalanced use of fertilisers, low addition of organic matter and non-replacement of depleted micro and secondary nutrients over the years, has resulted in nutrient deficiencies and decrease in soil fertility in some parts of the country
• India imports 
• 25 to 30% of its requirement of urea, 
• 90% requirement of DAP (Di ammonium Phosphate) and 
• 100 per cent MOP (Muriate of Potash).

Details of the scheme:

• The Soil Health Card is a printed report that will be given to farmers once in three years for each of his/her land holding. 
• It will contain crucial information on macro nutrients in the soil, secondary nutrients, micro nutrients, and physical parameters. 
• The card will be accompanied by an advisory on the corrective measures that a farmer should take to improved soil health and obtain a better yield.
• The system envisages building up a single national database on soil health for future use in research and planning.
• Samples are collected in post-rabi and post-kharif harvests when there is no standing crop in the field. Samples are sent to state laboratories or can even be tested in mobile labs. 
• The cost is borne by the Centre which has set aside Rs. 568.54 crore for a period of three years.
• The Fertilizer Quality Control System web gives information on the quality of imported fertilizers at ports while States check the quality of indigenously manufactured fertilizers.
• The Participatory Guarantee System portal provides for online registration, approval, documentation, record of inspection and Certification of organic products produced by a farmer.

[Source: The Hindu and PIB]