Maharashtra : 1.31 crore farmers allotted Soil Health Cards

Mumbai, 25.Aug.19: Soil Health Card Scheme is being implemented for the management of crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and for balanced use of fertilizers while maintaining the health of the land. Accordingly, the Soil Health Card was distributed to 1.30 crore farmers in the state last year.

Since 2015-16, the Soil Health Card Scheme is implemented under the National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture. Soil testing is done in laboratories for major and minor food components. Soil get analyzed and distribution of Soil Health Card take place among the farmers according that testing reports. In the first phase of 2015-16 to 2016-17, around 28 lakh soil samples were inspected and distributed Soil Health Card to 1.31 crore farmers. While in second phase of 2017-18 to 2018-19, again 28 crore soil samples were tested and Soil Health Card distributed to 1, 30, 53,000 farmers.

According to the data compiled by the Central Government’s online system, in the second phase of the scheme, in 2019, farmers of each taluka were given mobile messages informing about crop-wise main nutrients, in the state.

In the state, there are currently 31 government soil testing laboratories and 225 non-governmental 224 soil testing laboratories registered under the scheme. These laboratories can analyzed around 21 lakhs samples in a year, said Agriculture Minister Dr Anil Bonde.

The Soil Health Card Scheme has been modified from this year as per the suggestion of the Central Government. The Agriculture Minister said that a pilot project is implementing in villages of each of the talukas of the state to inspect the soil samples of all the registered farmers and distribute Soil Health Card to them.

All 351 talukas in the state have been selected under this pilot project. In the last phase, the work of examining 2.8 lakhs soil samples from 1.84 lakhs villages is in last step. Distribution of these Soil Health Card distribute through regional level extension systems. Demonstrations will be conducted in 50 hectares in each selected village which soil found lack of basic nutrients. A grant of Rs 2500 per hectare will be provided for this. Experts guide the farmers on various results mentioned in soil health card in farmers’ rallies said Agriculture Department Secretary Eknath Dawle.