Soil Health Card Scheme which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19.02.2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan completes 5 years on February 19, 2020.
From 2015 to 2017, in Cycle 1,10.74 crore soil health cards were distributed to farmers. In Cycle-II (2017-19),11.69crore soil health cards have been distributed to farmers across the country, according to the govt data.
The scheme has been introduced to assist State Governments to issue soil health cards to all farmers in the country. 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.
So far 429 New Static Soil Testing Labs (STLs), 102 New Mobile STLs, 8752 Mini STLs have been provided. Village level soil testing facilities (VLSTLS) by agri-entrepreneurs have also been promoted and so far and 1562 VLSTLs have been sanctioned and strengthening of 800 existing STLs have been sanctioned to States/UTs under the scheme.
Thus the soil analysing capacity has increased from 1.78 to 3.33 crore soil samples per annum in short period of 5 years. Soil Health Card provides two sets of fertilizer recommendations for six crops including recommendations of organic manures.
IFFCO, a co-op giant has been carrying the campaign Save our Soil for more than a decade. Kribhco, another cooperative has also been active in the save soil campaign.