(a) whether the Government has any programme to improve the quality of soil in order to increase the productivity;
(b) if so, the details of the specific programme in the country;
(c) whether the Government addresses the farmers from time to time to work for the improvement of the quality of soil;
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken in this regard; and
(e) the number of farmers in districts Tonk and Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan where quality of soil has been checked?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) & (b): Soil Health Card Scheme has been introduced in year 2014-15 to assist State Governments to issue soil health cards to all farmers in the country. Soil health card provide information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and fertility. Soil status is assessed regularly every 2 years so that nutrient deficiencies are identified and corrective steps taken. In cycle-1(2015-17), 10.74 crore and in cycle-2 (2017-19), 11.75 crore SHCs were distributed to the farmers.
During the current financial year (2019-20) a pilot project ‘Development of Model Villages’ has been taken up where soil samples collection has been taken up at individual farm holding with farmers participation instead of sample collection in grids. One village in each block has been selected by the States for implementation of the pilot project. So far 14.32 lakh soil health cards have been issued in the Model Villages.
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(c) & (d): Government addresses the farmers from time to time through trainings, field demonstrations and farmer melas to adopt soil health card recommendations for improving soil health and its fertility. During 2014-15 to 2019-20, under the Soil health Card (SHC) scheme, so far 1946 farmers’ trainings, 5.50 lakh field demonstrations and 7425 farmer melas have been sanctioned to States.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) also imparts training, organizes front-line demonstrations etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects.
(e): The details of number of farmers in districts Tonk and Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan where quality of soil has been checked is as under:
Name of District Year/ Scheme No. of soil sample tested
Tonk Cycle-I (2015-17) 112452
Cycle-II (2017-19) 126917
Pilot Project (2019-20) 1446
Sawai Madhopur Cycle-I (2015-17) 69624
Cycle-II (2017-19) 64155
Pilot Project (2019-20) 1650
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