Friday 17 July 2015

Soil Health Card Scheme

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

Why do we need it?




  • Farming as an activity contributes nearly 1/6th 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]

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