Question : Soil Health Card Scheme

(a) whether some positive results are being achieved in agricultural production after the introduction of the Soil Health Card Scheme and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the challenges faced by the Government while implementing Soil Health Card Scheme;

(c) whether the Government has assessed the performance of Soil Health Card Scheme and if so, the details thereof and the outcome of assessment;

(d) whether Soil Health Card Scheme has been implemented in all parts of the country specially in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh; and

(e) if so, the total number of farmers and the number of farmers who have been issued Soil Health Cards State/UT-wise especially in the States of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) to (c): National Productivity Council (NPC) carried out a study on ‘Soil Testing Infrastructure for Faster Delivery of Soil Health Card in India’ in 2017. In the study it was found that application of fertilizer and micronutrients based on Soil Health Card (SHC) recommendations resulted in 8-10% of savings and overall increase in the yield of crops to the tune of 5-6% reported by adopting the SHC recommendations.


National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad conducted an impact study of Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme (November 2017). The major findings were that there is some reduction in fertilizer use, especially Nitrogen and increase in bio-fertilizers and other micro-nutrients use. Overall, paddy farmers reduced use of urea by 9%, Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)/ Single Super Phosphate (SSP) by 7%, but increased use of Potassium by 20%. This is a healthy sign of moving towards balanced use of fertilizers.

The States have not reported any challenges faced by them while implementing the scheme.

(d) & (e): Soil Health Card Scheme has been implemented in all parts of the country including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. The State/Union Territory (UT)-wise details of total number of farm holdings and number of Soil Health Cards issued in given at Annexure.