Lok Sabha Question No. 2295 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Soil Health Cards
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ANIL SHIROLE, PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA, George Baker

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2295

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  31 ST  JULY, 2018

## SOIL HEALTH CARDS

2295.  SHRI ANIL SHIROLE:

SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

SHRI GEORGE BAKER:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE   ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण

½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) the main/salient features of soil health card scheme;
- (b) the number of Soil Health cards issued under the said scheme during the last three years, State-wise, including Gujarat;
- (c) the details of funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized under the said scheme since its inception across the country, State/UT-wise including Gujarat and West Bengal;
- (d) the details of the target set and achievements made under this scheme so far;
- (e) whether  the  agricultural  production  has  increased  across  the  country  after  the implementation of the said scheme and if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
- (f) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  further  strengthen  the  said scheme and bring maximum areas under the coverage of this scheme?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a): Yes,  Madam.  Soil  Health  Card  Scheme  plays  a  vital  role  in  enhancing  agricultural production  in  a  sustainable  manner.  The  Government  has  introduced  Soil  Health  Card (SHC)  Scheme  to  assist  State  Governments  to  provide  Soil  Health  Cards  to  all  farmers across  the  country  once  in  a  cycle  of  2  years.  Soil  Health  Card  provides  information  to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility, which results in enhanced agricultural productivity.

(b): A  statement  showing  number of  Soil  Health  Cards  State-wise  and  UT-wise  issued during the last three years including Gujarat is given at Annexure-I.

(c): A  statement  showing  funds  allocated/  sanctioned/  released  and  utilized  since  the inception of the Soil Health Card Scheme is given at Annexure-II.

(d):   In the 1 st Cycle of the scheme (2015-16 to 2016-17) against the target of distributing 10.74 crore  soil  health  cards  full  target  has  been  achieved.    In  the  2 nd Cycle  of  Scheme (2017-18 to  2018-19), against the target of distributing 12.20 crore soil health cards, 4.71 crore soil health cards have been distributed to farmers.

(e): The  soil  Health  Card  Scheme  is  meant  for  upkeep  the  health  of  soil.    Soil  Health Cards provides information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility, which results in enhanced agricultural productivity.

The  impact  analysis  by  National  Institute  of  Agricultural  Extension  Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad,  revealed that there is a reduction in use of urea by 9% and DAP by 7% but an increase in use of potash by 20% in paddy after the adoption of soil health cards that resulted in decreased cost of cultivation ranging between Rs.1000 to Rs.5000 per acre. MANAGE also observed a significant increase in yield after the adoption of soil health card recommendations by the farmers.

A Study conducted by National Productivity Council (NPC) found that application of fertilizers as per recommendations in the soil health card resulted in 8 to 10% saving in cost of production and the increase in the yield of crops to the tune of 5-6%.

(f):       The SHC Scheme is being implemented in all the States/Union Territories with an aim  to  assist  the  states/ union  territories  to  provide  soil  health  cards  to  all  farms  holding across  the  country  at  an  interval  of  2  years  and  to  strengthen  /  increase  the  soil  testing facilities of the States/UTs. 411 Static Soil Testing Labs, 80 Mobile Soil Testing Labs and 8752 Mini Labs have been sanctioned. These labs will create additional soil testing capacity of  307.66  lakh  samples  per  annum  in  addition  to  the  existing  capacity  of  1.78  crore  soil samples per annum. In addition, guidelines for outsourcing of soil sample analysis have also been issued to the states/UTs.

Further, to provide soil testing facilities at farmers  door  step and  to create employment  for  rural  youth,  nearly  1562  village  level  soil  testing  projects  have  been approved and funds are being released to the states.

## State-wise Status of Soil Health Card Scheme (as on 24.07.2018)

| Sl.No.   | States/UTs           | No. of SHCs Issued during Cycle-I Cycle-II   | No. of SHCs Issued during Cycle-I Cycle-II   | No. of SHCs Issued during Cycle-I Cycle-II   | No. of SHCs Issued during Cycle-I Cycle-II   |
|----------|----------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| Sl.No.   | States/UTs           | 2015-16                                      | 2016-17                                      | 2017-18                                      | 2018-19                                      |
| 1        | Uttar Pradesh        | 1015000                                      | 15976346                                     | 9425710                                      | 0                                            |
| 2        | Maharashtra          | 2947000                                      | 10030232                                     | 5232234                                      | 11142                                        |
| 3        | Madhya Pradesh       | 1204000                                      | 7668377                                      | 3548951                                      | 0                                            |
| 4        | Rajasthan            | 1114000                                      | 5772000                                      | 2483000                                      | 112000                                       |
| 5        | Karnataka            | 40000                                        | 7792189                                      | 3372859                                      | 0                                            |
| 6        | Gujarat              | 1366000                                      | 3742923                                      | 2554462                                      | 1531229                                      |
| 7        | Andhra Pradesh       | 1636000                                      | 5819204                                      | 3554087                                      | 0                                            |
| 8        | Bihar                | 1008000                                      | 5461650                                      | 1792813                                      | 0                                            |
| 9        | West Bengal          | 91000                                        | 4949510                                      | 1552000                                      | 48000                                        |
| 10       | Tamil Nadu           | 2343000                                      | 4657000                                      | 3403088                                      | 40499                                        |
| 11       | Telangana            | 1199000                                      | 4521737                                      | 1741214                                      | 39899                                        |
| 12       | Punjab               | 295000                                       | 956726                                       | 41842                                        | 10763                                        |
| 13       | Haryana              | 49000                                        | 4178238                                      | 348824                                       | 9300                                         |
| 14       | Chhattisgarh         | 658000                                       | 3232709                                      | 1945355                                      | 997014                                       |
| 15       | Odisha               | 654000                                       | 1720233                                      | 940293                                       | 0                                            |
| 16       | Kerala               | 46000                                        | 717435                                       | 507026                                       | 0                                            |
| 17       | Goa                  | 20000                                        | 5000                                         | 10107                                        | 0                                            |
| 18       | Uttarakhand          | 268000                                       | 482494                                       | 375247                                       | 99854                                        |
| 19       | Himachal Pradesh     | 128000                                       | 257011                                       | 413459                                       | 34860                                        |
| 20       | J & K                | 33000                                        | 659062                                       | 457022                                       | 57734                                        |
| 21       | Jharkhand            | 77000                                        | 560507                                       | 110934                                       | 0                                            |
| 22       | Arunachal Pradesh    | 1000                                         | 19532                                        | 55                                           | 0                                            |
| 23       | Assam                | 11000                                        | 1289901                                      | 107573                                       | 0                                            |
| 24       | Manipur              | 1000                                         | 113522                                       | 15000                                        | 0                                            |
| 25       | Meghalaya            | 19000                                        | 190561                                       | 75141                                        | 2026                                         |
| 26       | Mizoram              | 4000                                         | 7986                                         | 5993                                         | 275                                          |
| 27       | Nagaland             | 12000                                        | 172797                                       | 38000                                        | 0                                            |
| 28       | Sikkim               | 27000                                        | 19000                                        | 0                                            | 0                                            |
| 29       | Tripura              | 9000                                         | 108723                                       | 58862                                        | 3056                                         |
| 30       | Andaman & Nicobar    | 0                                            | 10000                                        | 1625                                         | 0                                            |
| 31       | Dadar & Nagar Haveli | 0                                            | 2222                                         | 0                                            | 0                                            |
| 32       | Puducherry           | 0                                            | 19594                                        | 953                                          | 0                                            |
| Total    | Total                | 16275000                                     | 91114421                                     | 44113729                                     | 2997651                                      |

## Annexure-I

## State-wise fund released and Unspent balance under Soil Health Card Scheme

| Sl. No          |         | 2014-15                | 2014-15                | 2015-16    | 2015-16                | 2015-16                | 2016-17    | 2016-17                | 2017-18         | 2017-18      | 2017-18       | 2018-19    | 2018-19   | 2018-19       |
|-----------------|---------|------------------------|------------------------|------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------|------------------------|-----------------|--------------|---------------|------------|-----------|---------------|
| Sl. No          |         | Released Fund Utilized | Released Fund Utilized | Allocation | Released Fund Utilized | Released Fund Utilized | Allocation | Released Fund Utilized | Allocatio n     | Released     | Fund Utilized | Allocation | Released  | Fund Utilized |
| 1 Andhra Pr.    | 124.08  | 124.08                 | 706.09                 | 457.75     | 457.75                 | 1394.47                | 1394.47    | 1394.47                | 1213.54         | 1225.67      | 1216.57       | 1345.97    | 672.98    | 0.00          |
| 2 Arunachal Pr. | 12.23   | 12.23                  | 30.24                  | 17.18      | 17.18                  | 49.82                  | 37.37      | 37.37                  | 27.72           | 20.79        | 0.00          | 65.86      | 49.40     | 0.00          |
| 3 Assam         | 50.85   | 50.85                  | 253.19                 | 142.07     | 142.07                 | 618.94                 | 365.03     | 0.00                   | 376.26          | 0.00         | 0.00          | 991.32     | 0.00      | 0.00          |
| 4 Bihar         | 253.39  | 243.15                 | 673.50                 | 488.17     | 433.59                 | 1288.75                | 0.00       | 0.00                   | 1177.90         | 0.00         | 0.00          | 1290.39    | 0.00      | 0.00          |
| 5 Chhattisgarh  | 66.04   | 66.04                  | 383.43                 | 281.03     | 281.03                 | 685.43                 | 342.72     | 342.72                 | 844.88          | 888.12       | 802.38        | 700.10     | 350.05    | 0.00          |
| 6 Goa           | 11.51   | 0.00                   | 16.57                  | 12.42      | 0.00                   | 18.78                  | 0.00       | 0.00                   | 22.50           |              | 0.00          | 25.64      | 0.00      | 0.00          |
| 7 Gujarat       | 80.76   | 80.76                  | 835.50                 | 603.46     | 603.46                 | 1057.38                | 528.69     | 528.69                 | 1682.49         | 0.00 1990.36 | 908.27        | 1832.61    | 0.00      | 0.00          |
| 8 Haryana       | 34.13   | 34.13                  | 400.67                 | 288.22     | 288.22                 | 440.31                 | 0.00       | 0.00                   | 709.80          | 1065.05      | 699.60        | 1600.46    | 800.23    | 0.00          |
| 9 Himachal Pr.  | 24.08   | 24.08                  | 70.55                  | 47.34      | 47.34                  | 58.84                  | 29.42      | 29.42                  | 135.00          | 136.34       | 136.3400      | 150.7700   | 113.09    | 0.00          |
| 10 J & K        | 31.79   | 31.79                  | 141.22                 | 77.16      | 77.16                  | 325.89                 | 0.00       | 0.00                   | 223.18          | 0.00         | 0.00          | 246.54     | 246.54    | 0.00          |
| 11 Jharkhand    | 50.69   | 35.58                  | 73.25                  | 53.97      | 38.12                  | 128.35                 | 64.18      | 53.46                  | 103.77          | 0.00         | 0.00          | 148.69     | 0.00      | 0.00          |
| 12 Karnataka    | 127.02  | 127.02                 | 1292.93                | 650.25     | 650.25                 | 2059.61                | 1029.80    | 1029.80                | 1499.19         | 1135.63      | 1095.48       | 1670.66    | 835.33    | 0.00          |
| 13 Kerala       | 112.62  | 112.62                 | 82.56                  | 60.93      | 60.93                  | 131.77                 | 0.00       | 0.00                   | 114.83 0.00     |              | 0.00          | 206.03     | 0.00      | 0.00          |
| 14 Madhya Pr.   | 142.86  | 142.86                 | 1228.13                | 888.05     | 888.05                 | 2747.08                | 1373.54    | 1373.54 2082.58        | 2669.47         | 2109.02      | 2371.91       |            | 2097.56   | 0.00          |
| 15 Maharashtra  | 215.96  | 215.96                 | 1284.83                | 932.30     | 932.30                 | 2430.13                | 1910.73    | 1743.53                | 2112.41 1066.77 |              | 813.28        | 3120.42    | 1560.21   | 0.00          |
| 16 Manipur      | 12.80   | 0.00                   | 30.91                  | 17.58      | 0.00                   | 63.47                  | 0.00       | 0.00 27.96             | 0.00            | 0.00         | 34.05         |            | 0.00      | 0.00          |
| 17 Meghalaya    | 13.62   | 13.62                  | 36.45                  | 20.60      | 20.60                  | 43.44                  | 0.00       | 0.00                   | 53.15           | 40.26        | 0.00          | 60.96      | 30.48     | 0.00          |
| 18 Mizoram      | 11.98   | 11.98                  | 23.93                  | 13.79      | 13.79                  | 36.04                  | 6.15       | 6.15 16.18             | 12.25           | 12.25        |               | 23.30      | 17.48     | 0.00          |
| 19 Nagaland     | 13.18   | 13.18                  | 40.01                  | 22.46      | 22.46                  | 73.82                  | 17.55      | 17.55 45.12            | 0.00            | 0.00         | 53.37         |            | 40.03     | 0.00          |
| 20 Odisha       | 80.23   | 80.23                  | 371.35                 | 269.89     | 269.89                 | 608.96                 | 304.48     | 304.48 601.77          | 451.33          | 451.33       |               | 683.92     | 341.96    | 0.00          |
| 21 Punjab       | 25.81   | 25.81                  | 424.02                 | 304.98     | 197.62                 | 958.42                 | 0.00       | 0.00                   | 751.97          | 0.00 0.00    | 811.57        |            | 0.00      | 0.00          |
| 22 Rajasthan    | 143.42  | 143.42                 | 1212.62                | 875.79     | 875.79                 | 2216.58                | 1108.29    | 937.52 2577.60         | 0.00            | 0.00         | 4219.34       |            | 2109.67   | 0.00          |
| 23 Sikkim       | 11.75   | 11.75                  | 20.29                  | 11.81      | 11.81                  | 25.23                  | 0.00       | 0.00 17.84             | 13.51           | 13.51        | 88.46         |            | 66.35     | 0.00          |
| 24 Tamil Nadu   | 131.91  | 131.91                 | 652.14                 | 469.51     | 469.51                 | 1289.84                | 644.92     | 644.92 1147.08         | 868.91          | 563.25       | 1286.18       |            | 964.64    | 0.00          |
| 25 Telengana    | 93.48   | 93.48                  | 544.04                 | 352.92     | 352.92                 | 936.50                 | 468.25     | 468.25 931.21          | 705.39          | 434.03       | 997.83        |            | 0.00      | 0.00          |
| 26 Tripura      | 18.38   | 18.38                  | 40.38                  | 22.71      | 22.71                  | 78.95                  | 59.21      | 59.21 44.19            | 33.48           | 33.48        |               | 52.83      | 26.42     | 0.00          |
| 27 Uttar Pr.    | 354.47  | 354.47                 | 2386.50                | 1716.42    | 1716.42                | 4884.09                | 2442.05    | 2442.05 4468.04        | 2256.36         | 1951.35      |               | 4622.10    | 2319.31   | 0.00          |
| 28 Uttarakhand  | 23.40   | 23.40                  | 119.02                 | 65.19      | 65.19                  | 235.56                 | 144.70     | 144.70 183.25          | 92.54           |              | 90.31         | 218.46     | 163.85    | 0.00          |
| 29 West Bengal  | 117.14  | 117.14                 | 666.70                 | 480.12     | 480.12                 | 1459.95                | 1094.96    | 1094.96 1170.32        | 591.01          |              | 0.00          | 1274.36    | 637.18    | 0.00          |
| 30 Puducherry   | 0.00    | 0.00                   | 0.00                   | 0.00       | 0.00                   | 0.00                   | 0.00       | 0.00 18.00             | 13.64           | 0.00         |               | 14.84      | 0.00      | 0.00          |
| 31 A&N Island   | 0.00    | 0.00                   | 0.00                   | 0.00       | 0.00                   | 0.00                   | 0.00       | 0.00 0.00              | 0.00            |              | 0.00          | 7.70       | 5.78      | 0.00          |
| 32 D&N Haveli   | 0.00    | 0.00                   | 0.00                   | 0.00       | 0.00                   | 0.00                   | 0.00       | 0.00 0.00              | 0.00            |              | 0.00          | 8.34       | 6.26      | 0.00          |
| Total           | 2389.58 | 2339.92                | 14041.02               | 9644.07    | 9436.28                | 26346.40               | 13366.49   | 12652.77 24379.73      | 15276.87        | 11330.45     |               | 30224.98   | 13454.78  | 0.00          |

There is no allocation during 2014-15 fund released are for  preparatory arrangements.

Annexure-II

(Rs. In lakh)