SOIL HEALTH
CARD scheme
T. Prabhushankar
Harpreet Singh Sudan
Rajendra Katara
I. Salient features

Site specific nutrient management

Beneficiaries – 14 crore farmers, 3 years cycle

Soil samples – 2.53 cr in first 2 years

Grids - 2.5 ha (Irrigated) / 10 ha (Rainfed)

Parameters – 12 (pH, EC, OC, N, P, K, S, Zn, B, Fe, Mn, Cu)

Cost as per guidelines- Rs. 190/sample
STAGES
Soil Sample
Collection
Sample
Analysis
Management
Information
System (MIS)
Distribution of
Soil Health
Card
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II Common Challenges
a) Sample Collection

Shortage of trained manpower

Non Availability / Use of GPS devices

Regional variations in sample collection window period
b) Sample Analysis

Inadequate number of Soil Testing Labs

Soil Testing Labs without micronutrient facility

Lack of skilled manpower

Low cost Technology by ICAR in short supply
◦ ‘Mridaparikshak’,
◦ ‘PUSA Soil Testing and Fertilizer Recommendation meter’
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II Common Challenges (contd..)
c) Management Information System

Legacy Data Migration issues

Compatibility issues between Central & State portals

Non availability in all local languages (currently 12)
d) Administrative

Non release of matching contribution from States

Disparities in States’ preparedness & capabilities

Low priority scheme for the District Administration

Lack of inter-departmental coordination
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III. Field visits – a) Observations

Lack of clarity in plot/ field identification (Har)

Choosing the beneficiary - Owner or Cultivator (Har)

Injudicious work allocation among departments (Ker)

Underutilized KVKs & Equipments (Raj, MP)

Lack of Power backup, Chemical Reagents (UP)

Minimal follow up after distribution of Card (Guj)
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III. Field visits – b) Feedback

Linkages with Agricultural inputs

Flexibility in component wise expenditure

Region-wise Soil deficiency guidelines

Farmer’s training - Sample collection
- Using Soil Health Card

MIS - Excessive data capture at input
- Non inclusion of Local crop varieties

Avoid SC / ST sub-plan wise grant allocation

Increase fund flow from the Centre
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IV. Best practices
a) Sample collection

Coordination among Staff & Departments (TN, Guj)

Plot wise sample collection (Guj)

Accurate Geo-tagging of samples (AP)

Involvement of Farmers ( Raj)
b) Soil Analysis

Outsourcing (Guj)


Operations & Maintenance of Soil Test Labs, Agricultural
Produce Marketing Committees, Science Colleges
Soil Test Labs –


Strengthening through new Labs ( Raj, MP)
Double shifts, Junior Research Fellows ( TN, AP)
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IV . Best practices (contd..)
c) MIS

Data entry – Centralized, Quality Monitoring (Guj)

Crop Stage wise fertilizer recommendations (Mah)

Linkages with State farmers’ portal & Best practices
d) Distribution

Panchayat level distribution (AP, Mah)

Laminated Soil Health Cards( AP)

SMS & IEC Linkages(AP)
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V. Recommendations –
a) Short term

State wide Mission mode Sample Collection

Involving students/ NCC/ NSS volunteers for
collection

Activation of District Level Executive Committees

ICAR to validate commercially available low cost
technology

GIS mapping of Soil Testing Labs for effective
monitoring

MIS – Comprehensive with linkages to Farmers’
portal
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V. Recommendations –
b) Long term

Convergence with MGNREGS - Soil Collection

Convergence with Skill India Mission –

Trained Youth as Technical Agents, Credit based Subsidy
for low cost Soil Test Labs

Linkages with Agriculture Extension activities

Comprehensive Follow up –


Farm demonstrations & handholding
Impact Assessment –

Behavioural Changes, Input Cost of Fertilizers
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THANK YOU
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