GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1524

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26TH JULY, 2016

SOIL HEALTH CARDS

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the steps taken by the Government to increase soil fertility indicating the technique adopted for the purpose, the funds spent for increasing soil fertility during the last three years and the extent to which the soil fertility has been increased;

(b) the details of soil health cards issued to the farmers against the targets set in the country during the last two years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) whether there has been marked improvement in the quality of soil since issuance of soild health cards in the country, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(d) the details of funds allocated and utilised for implementation of soil health cards scheme in the country during the said period; and

(e) whether there is a paucity of funds for implementation of the scheme and if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER 

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

 (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA) 

(a): The Government is implementing the following schemes to increase soil fertility and productivity:

             i) Soil Health Management (SHM)

             ii) Soil Health Card (SHC)

Under the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme, soil health cards will be provided to all farm holdings in the country at the interval of two years so as to enable farmers to apply appropriate recommended dosages of nutrients for crop production and improving the soil health & its fertility.Under Soil Health Management (SHM), assistance provided to States for setting up/ strengthening soil testing labs, trainings and demonstrations on balanced use of fertilizers.

The funds released under both schemes during the last three years is given at Annexure-I.

(b): The scheme targets to distribute soil health cards (SHCs) to each of the 14 crore farmers once in every cycle of 2 years. As per the grid pattern adopted, a total number of 253 lakh number of soil samples are to be collected to generate the targeted number of SHCs. Since the launch of the scheme in February 2015, as many as 184.75 lakh number of samples have been collected and 227 lakh cards have been distributed to the farmers. The State-wise details are given at Annexure-II.

(c): Since the scheme has been launched in 2015, it is too early to assess the improvement in quality of soil. 

(d) & (e): The details of funds allocated and released for implementation of soil health cards scheme are given at Annexure-III. There is no paucity of funds for implementation of the scheme.