Soil Health Card Scheme

Soil Health Card Scheme Latest News

Recently, the soil health card scheme has completed its decade.

About Soil Health Card Scheme

• The soil health card scheme was launched to assist State Governments to issue soil health cards to all farmers in the country in 2015.
• Soil health card provides information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.

Soil Health Card Scheme Key Features

• The Soil Health Card contains status of the soil with respect to 12 parameters, namely N,P,K, S (Macro-nutrients); Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo (Micro – nutrients) ; and pH (Acidity or Basicity), EC (Electrical Conductivity) and OC (Organic Carbon).
• Soil Samples are taken generally two times in a year, after harvesting of Rabi and Kharif Crop respectively or when there is no standing crop in the field.
• A farm will get the soil card once in every 3 years.
• Village Level Soil Testing Labs can be set up foe provide test results by individual entrepreneurs i.e. rural youth and community based entrepreneurs, including Self Help Groups (SHGs), Schools, Agriculture Universities etc.
• Soil Health Card scheme has been merged in Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme as one of its components under the name ‘Soil Health & Fertility’ from the year 2022-23.
• Technological Advancements: To streamline the implementation/monitoring of the scheme and to provide easy access to Soil Health Card to the farmers, SHC Mobile App has been built with additional features.
• Soil Health Card Scheme Benefits
  • The scheme will monitor the soil of the farmers well and will give them a formatted report. So, they can decide well which crops they should cultivate and which ones they should skip.
  • The authorities will monitor the soil on a regular basis. One in every 3 years, they will provide a report to farmers. So farmers need not worry if the nature of the soil changes due to certain factors. Also, they will always have updated data about their soil.
• Nodal Agency: Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in (DA&FW).

Soil Health Card Scheme FAQs

Q1. What is the Soil Health Card Scheme?

Ans. The Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme helps farmers assess soil nutrients and receive fertilizer recommendations, promoting sustainable agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

Q2. What is the theme of the Soil Health Card Scheme?

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Ans. The scheme promotes soil test-based, balanced fertilizer use, helping farmers achieve higher yields at lower costs while ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.

Q3. What are the 12 parameters of Soil Health Card?

Ans. The Soil Health Card provides soil status based on 12 parameters, including macro-nutrients (N, P, K, S), micro-nutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo), pH, EC, and OC.

Q4. Which ministry launched Soil Health Card?

Ans. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched Soil Health Card.

Q5. What is the slogan of Soil Health Card Scheme?

Ans. Swasth Dhara Toh Khet Hara is the slogan of Soil Health Card Scheme.

Source: PIB