Question : Soil Health Card Scheme

(a) whether cards have been made for the farmers under the soil health card scheme in the country during the last four years;

(b) if so, the number of farmers for whom such soil health cards have been made State-wise and district-wise particularly in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra;

(c) the number of such farmers who have been given suggestion to grow new crops through these cards along with the details of these suggestions, State-wise and district-wise particularly in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra;

(d) the percentage of farmers who have got the benefits of new crop system through these suggestions;

(e) the percentage of increase in the income of farmers including the details thereof;

(f) the number of Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) constructed in/near APMC Mandis in States after the implementation of National Agriculture Market (NAM) along with the details thereof; and

(g) the difference between this service and the Soil Health Card Scheme?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): The Government has introduced Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme during 2015 to assist State Governments to provide Soil Health Cards to all farmers across the country.

(b): A statement showing state-wise soil health cards distributed to farmers is given at Annexure-I and district-wise information of distribution of soil health cards to farmers in Maharashtra particularly Jalgaon district is given at Annexure-II.

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(c) & (d): The fertilizer recommendations are given only for those crops which the farmers want to grow on the basis of soil health cards recommendations and new crops are not suggested.

(e): National Productivity Council (NPC) in their study (February 2017), has reported savings of 8-10% of fertilizers and 5-6% increase in crop yield.

(f): As per information received from states, 11 Soil Testing Laboratories in Chhattisgarh and 5 Soil Testing Laboratories in West Bengal have been set up in/near APMC Mandis.

(g): The services rendered by both the facilities are similar since all the 12 parameters as per Soil Health Card scheme guidelines have to be delivered.