Lok Sabha Question No. 2939 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-13
Subject: Issuance of Soil Health Card
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE, SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2939

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  13 TH  MARCH, 2018

## ISSUANCE OF SOIL HEALTH CARD

2939.  SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè

be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the Soil Health Card Scheme along with the criterion laid down under the scheme for issuance of Soil Health Cards (SHCs) to the farmers;
- (b) the number of SHCs issued to the farmers across the country under the scheme since inception, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the details of the funds provided by the Government to the States along with its utilisation reported by the States thereunder;
- (d) whether the Government has set up Soil Testing Laboratories across the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise along with the number of farmers who have availed benefits of such laboratories, so far;
- (e) whether  a  lot  of  soil  testing  laboratories  are  shut  down  due  to  shortage  of equipment and manpower and if so, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government to improve the service; and
- (f) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this direction?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

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

- (a): 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 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. The criteria followed for soil sampling is in grids of 2.5 ha in irrigated areas and 10 ha grid in rainfed areas. Sample testing is to be done for  12  parameters  namely  pH,  Electrical  Conductivity  (EC),  Organic  Carbon  (OC), macronutrients  [Nitrogen  (N),  Phosphorus  (P)  &  Potash  (K)],  secondary  nutrients [Sulphur  (S)]  and  micronutrients  micro-nutrients  [Zinc  (Zn),  Iron  (Fe),  Copper  (Cu), Manganese (Mn) & Boron (B)].

(b): During  the  first  cycle  (2015-2017),  10.60  crore  soil  health  cards  issued  to farmers.  In the first year of Second Cycle (2017-18); 1.59 crore soil health cards issued till 06.03.2018. The State-wise detailed statement is given at Annexure-I.

(c): The details of the funds provided by the Government to the States along with its utilization reported by the States is given at  Annexure-II.

(d): State-wise Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) sanctioned/ strengthened is placed at Annexure-III. 10.60 crore and 1.59 crore farmers are benefitted from the soil health card  scheme  during  the  1 st cycle  and  2 nd cycle  respectively  through  the  soil  testing laboratories.

(e) & (f): None  of  the    State  Governments  have  reported  shutting  down  of  soil testing labs  due to shortage of equipment and manpower.  Maintenance and keeping functional of STLs are the responsibility of respective State Governments.  Government of India is providing financial assistance for strengthening of soil testing labs on demand of State Governments.

## Annexure-I

## State-wise and Cycle-wise Target and Achievement of Soil Health Card Distribution

## under Soil Health Card Scheme

(As on 06.03.2018)

|      |                      | First Cycle (2015-17)   | First Cycle (2015-17)      | Second Cycle (2017-19)   | Second Cycle (2017-19)     |
|------|----------------------|-------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------|----------------------------|
| S.No | State                | Target                  | SHCs printed & distributed | Target                   | SHCs printed & distributed |
| 1    | Uttar Pradesh        | 16991000                | 16581748                   | 11662730                 | 1074766                    |
| 2    | Maharashtra          | 12977232                | 12977232                   | 6488616                  | 2699184                    |
| 3    | Madhya Pradesh       | 8872377                 | 8872377                    | 4436189                  | 2183000                    |
| 4    | Rajasthan            | 6886000                 | 6886000                    | 3443000                  | 1198000                    |
| 5    | Karnataka            | 7832189                 | 7832204                    | 3916095                  | 1492780                    |
| 6    | Gujarat              | 5108923                 | 5108923                    | 2554462                  | 0                          |
| 7    | Andhra Pradesh       | 7455204                 | 7455204                    | 3727602                  | 1011863                    |
| 8    | Bihar                | 6469650                 | 6469650                    | 3618117                  | 1038883                    |
| 9    | West Bengal          | 5040510                 | 5040510                    | 2520255                  | 834000                     |
| 10   | Tamil Nadu           | 7000000                 | 7000000                    | 3500000                  | 966951                     |
| 11   | Telangana            | 5720737                 | 5720737                    | 2860369                  | 494482                     |
| 12   | Punjab               | 1053000                 | 948634                     | 2309811                  | 0                          |
| 13   | Haryana              | 4227238                 | 4227238                    | 2180278                  | 47625                      |
| 14   | Chhattisgarh         | 3890709                 | 3890709                    | 1945355                  | 1640830                    |
| 15   | Odisha               | 2374233                 | 2374233                    | 1848441                  | 410726                     |
| 16   | Kerala               | 705420                  | 705420                     | 2852208                  | 0                          |
| 17   | Goa                  | 25000                   | 25000                      | 12500                    | 4223                       |
| 18   | Uttarakhand          | 750494                  | 750494                     | 375247                   | 241992                     |
| 19   | Himachal Pradesh     | 385011                  | 385011                     | 480383                   | 333657                     |
| 20   | J & K                | 692062                  | 692062                     | 457022                   | 71281                      |
| 21   | Jharkhand            | 637507                  | 637507                     | 318754                   | 96367                      |
| 22   | Arunachal Pradesh    | 20532                   | 20532                      | 56762                    | 0                          |
| 23   | Assam                | 1540968                 | 750086                     | 770484                   | 0                          |
| 24   | Manipur              | 114522                  | 114522                     | 57261                    | 0                          |
| 25   | Meghalaya            | 209561                  | 209561                     | 104781                   | 35904                      |
| 26   | Mizoram              | 11986                   | 11986                      | 5993                     | 73                         |
| 27   | Nagaland             | 184797                  | 184797                     | 92399                    | 0                          |
| 28   | Sikkim               | 46000                   | 46000                      | 23000                    | 0                          |
| 29   | Tripura              | 117723                  | 117723                     | 58862                    | 12343                      |
| 30   | Andaman & Nicobar    | 10000                   | 10000                      | 3900                     | 0                          |
| 31   | Dadar Nagar & Haveli | 2162                    | 2162                       | 6000                     | 0                          |
| 32   | Puducherry           | 19594                   | 19594                      | 9797                     | 0                          |
|      | Total                | 107372341               | 106067856                  | 62696665                 | 15888930                   |

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

(Rs. In lakh)

| Sl. No                   |         | 2014-15   | 2014-15       | 2015-16   | 2015-16                |                       | 2017-18        | 2017-18       |
|--------------------------|---------|-----------|---------------|-----------|------------------------|-----------------------|----------------|---------------|
| Sl. No                   |         | Released  | Fund Utilized | Released  | Fund Utilized Released | 2016-17 Fund Utilized | Released       | Fund Utilized |
| 1 Andhra Pra.            | 124.08  | 124.08    | 457.75        | 457.75    | 1394.47                | 1394.47 919.26        | 910.16         |               |
| 2 Arunachal Pr.          | 12.23   | 12.23     | 17.18         |           | 17.18 37.37            | 37.37                 | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 3 Assam                  | 50.85   | 50.85     | 142.07        | 142.07    | 365.03                 | 0.00                  | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 4 Bihar                  | 253.39  | 243.15    | 488.17        |           | 433.59 0.00            | 0.00                  | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 5 Chhattisgarh           | 66.04   | 66.04     | 281.03        |           | 281.03 342.72          | 342.72                | 888.12         | 362.77        |
| 6 Goa                    | 11.51   | 0.00      | 12.42         |           | 0.00 0.00              | 0.00                  | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 7 Gujarat                | 80.76   | 80.76     | 603.46        | 603.46    | 528.69                 | 528.69                | 1990.36        | 0.00          |
| 8 Haryana                | 34.13   | 34.13     | 288.22        |           | 288.22 0.00            | 0.00                  | 1065.05        | 0.00          |
| 9 Himachal Pr.           | 24.08   | 24.08     | 47.34         | 47.34     | 29.42                  | 29.42                 | 136.34         | 101.25        |
| 10 J & K                 | 31.79   | 13.72     | 77.16         |           | 75.01 0.00             | 0.00                  | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 11 Jharkhand             | 50.69   | 35.58     | 53.97         | 38.12     | 64.18                  | 56.57                 | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 12 Karnataka             | 127.02  | 127.02    | 650.25        | 650.25    | 1029.80                | 1029.80               | 1135.63        | 562.19        |
| 13 Kerala                | 112.62  | 62.83     | 60.93         |           | 60.93 0.00             | 0.00                  | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 14 Madhya Pr.            | 142.86  | 142.86    | 888.05        | 888.05    | 1373.54                | 1373.54               | 2464.47        | 0.00          |
| 15 Maharashtra           | 215.96  | 215.96    | 932.30        | 932.30    | 1910.73                | 1743.53               | 1066.77        | 0.00          |
| 16 Manipur               | 12.80   | 0.00      | 17.58         | 0.00      | 0.00                   | 0.00                  | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 17 Meghalaya             | 13.62   | 13.62     | 20.60         |           | 20.60 0.00             | 0.00                  | 40.26          | 0.00          |
| 18 Mizoram               | 11.98   | 11.98     | 13.79         | 13.79     | 6.15                   | 6.15                  | 12.25          | 0.00          |
| 19 Nagaland              | 13.18   | 13.18     | 22.46         | 22.46     | 17.55                  | 17.55                 | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 20 Odisha                | 80.23   | 80.23     | 269.89        | 269.89    | 304.48                 | 304.48                | 451.33         | 0.00          |
| 21 Punjab                | 25.81   | 25.81     | 304.98        | 25.00     | 0.00                   | 0.00                  | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 22 Rajasthan             | 143.42  | 143.42    | 875.79        | 89.89     | 1108.29                | 868.05                | 0.00           | 0.00          |
| 23 Sikkim                | 11.75   | 11.75     | 11.81         | 11.81     | 0.00                   | 0.00                  | 13.51          | 0.00          |
| 24 Tamil Nadu            | 131.91  | 131.91    | 469.51        | 469.51    | 644.92                 | 644.92                | 868.91         | 0.00          |
| 25 Telengana             | 93.48   | 93.48     | 352.92        |           | 352.92 468.25          | 468.25                | 705.39         | 0.00          |
| 26 Tripura               | 18.38   | 18.38     | 22.71         |           | 22.71 59.21            | 59.21                 | 33.15          | 0.00          |
| 27 Uttar Pr. Uttarakhand | 354.47  | 23.40     | 354.47 65.19  | 1716.42   | 1579.33 2442.05        | 2246.68 144.70        | 2256.36 92.54  | 0.00 0.00     |
| 28                       | 23.40   |           |               |           | 65.19 144.70           |                       |                |               |
| 29 West Bengal           | 117.14  | 117.14    | 480.12        | 480.12    | 1094.96                | 1094.96               | 591.01         | 0.00          |
| 30 Puducherry            | 0.00    | 0.00      | 0.00          | 0.00      | 0.00                   |                       |                | 0.00          |
| Total                    | 2389.58 | 2272.06   | 9644.07       |           | 8338.52 13366.49       | 0.00 12391.04         | 13.64 14744.34 | 1936.37       |

## AnnexureII

(As on 08.03.18)

| S.N o   | States        | 2014-15   | 2014-15   | 2014-15   | 2014-15   | 2015-16   | 2015-16   | 2015-16   | 2015-16   | 2015-16   | 2016-17   | 2016-17   | 2016-17      | 2016-17      | 2016-17   |     |         |      |       | 2017-18   | 2017-18   | 2017-18   | 2017-18   | 2017-18   | 2017-18    | 2017-18    | 2017-18    | 2017-18    | 2017-18    | 2017-18    | 2017-18    | 2017-18    |
|---------|---------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|--------------|--------------|-----------|-----|---------|------|-------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|
| S.N o   | States        | New L STL | MST       | Str       | Tota l    | New       | MST L     | Str       | Tota l    | New L     | MST       | Str       | Mini         | Tota l New L | MST       | Str |         | Mini | l     | Tota      | New MST L | Str       | Total STL | Mini STLs | Gra nd Tot | Gra nd Tot | Gra nd Tot | Gra nd Tot | Gra nd Tot | Gra nd Tot | Gra nd Tot | Gra nd Tot |
| 1       | Andhra Pr.    | 0         | 5         | 0         | 5         | 0         | 2         | 37        | 39        | 0         | 2         | 21        | 0            | 23 0         |           | 0   | 0       | 132  | 8     | 132       | 0         |           |           | 1328      | 139        | 139        | 139        | 139        | 139        | 139        | 139        | 139        |
| 2       | Arunachal Pr. | 0         | 0         | 2         | 2         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 3         | 0            | 3 0          |           | 0   | 3       | 0    | 8 3   |           | 0         | 9 0       | 58 8      | 0         | 5 8        | 5 8        | 5 8        | 5 8        | 5 8        | 5 8        | 5 8        | 5 8        |
| 3       | Assam         | 2         | 2         | 0         | 4         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 200          | 200          | 0         | 0   | 4       | 0    | 4     | 2         | 2         | 4         |           | 200       | 208        | 208        | 208        | 208        | 208        | 208        | 208        | 208        |
| 4       | Bihar         | 0         | 6         | 5         | 11        | 0         | 0         | 9         | 9         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0            | 0         | 0   | 0 0     |      | 0     | 0         | 6         | 14        |           | 0         | 20         | 20         | 20         | 20         | 20         | 20         | 20         | 20         |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh  | 1         | 0         | 0         | 1         | 8         | 0         | 0         | 8         | 11        | 0         | 0         | 111          | 122          | 0         | 0   |         | 4 4  | 0     |           | 20        | 0         | 4         | 111       | 135        | 135        | 135        | 135        | 135        | 135        | 135        | 135        |
| 6       | Goa           | 1         | 1         | 0         | 2         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0            | 0         | 0   | 0       |      | 0 0   |           | 1         | 1         | 0         | 0         | 2          | 2          | 2          | 2          | 2          | 2          | 2          | 2          |
| 7       | Gujarat       | 0         | 2         | 0         | 2         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0 0          |           | 0   | 11      | 230  |       | 241       | 0         | 2         | 11        | 230       | 243        | 243        | 243        | 243        | 243        | 243        | 243        | 243        |
| 8       | Haryana       | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 1         | 0         | 11        | 50           | 62           | 0         | 0   | 0       | 0    |       | 0         | 1         | 0         | 11        | 50        | 62         | 62         | 62         | 62         | 62         | 62         | 62         | 62         |
| 9       | Himachal Pr.  | 0         | 3         | 0         | 3         | 0         | 3         | 0         | 3         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 69           | 69           | 0         | 0   | 0       | 0    | 0     |           | 0         | 6         | 0         | 69        | 75         | 75         | 75         | 75         | 75         | 75         | 75         | 75         |
| 10      | J&K           | 5         | 6         | 0         | 11        | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0            | 0         | 0   | 0       | 0    |       | 0         | 5         | 6         | 0         | 0         | 11         | 11         | 11         | 11         | 11         | 11         | 11         | 11         |
| 11      | Jharkhand     | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 1         | 1         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 130          | 130          | 0         | 0   | 0       | 0    |       | 0         |           |           |           |           | 130        | 130        | 130        | 130        | 130        | 130        | 130        | 130        |
| 12      | Karnataka     | 0         | 1         | 0         | 1         | 0         | 0         | 36        | 36        | 6         | 0         | 15        | 0 2          | 0 23         | 0         | 0   | 66      | 4    | 70    | 6         | 0         | 117       | 1         | 6         | 130        | 130        | 130        | 130        | 130        | 130        | 130        | 130        |
| 13      | Kerala        | 0         | 2         | 0         | 2         | 0         | 0         | 1         | 1         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 152          | 152          |           | 0   | 0       | 0    | 0     | 0         | 0 2       | 1         |           | 152       | 155        | 155        | 155        | 155        | 155        | 155        | 155        | 155        |
| 14      | Madhya Pr.    | 0         | 10        | 0         | 10        | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 265       | 0         | 0         | 626          | 891          | 0         | 0   | 0       |      | 0     | 0         | 265       | 10        | 0         | 626       | 901        | 901        | 901        | 901        | 901        | 901        | 901        | 901        |
| 15      | Maharashtra   | 0         | 10        | 0         | 10        | 13        | 0         | 10        | 23        | 25        | 0         | 19        | 131 8        | 136 2        |           | 0   | 0       | 0    | 0     | 0         | 38        |           | 29        |           | 139        | 139        | 139        | 139        | 139        | 139        | 139        | 5          |
| 16      | Manipur       | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0            | 0         | 0   | 3       | 0    |       | 3         | 0         | 0         | 3         | 0         | 3          | 3          | 3          | 3          | 3          | 3          | 3          | 3          |
| 17      | Meghalaya     | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 2         | 8            | 10           | 0         | 0   | 0       | 0    |       | 0         | 0         | 0         | 2         | 8         | 10         | 10         | 10         | 10         | 10         | 10         | 10         | 10         |
| 18      | Mizoram       | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 1         | 0            | 1            | 0         | 0   | 0       | 0    |       | 0         | 0         | 0         | 1         | 0         | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          |
| 19      | Nagaland      | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 1         | 0         | 0         | 1         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0            | 0         | 0   |         | 0    | 0     | 0         | 1         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 1          |            |            |            |            |            |            |            |
| 20      | Odisha        | 0         | 3         | 0         | 3         | 3         | 3         | 0         | 6         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0            | 0         | 0   | 0       | 0    | 0     | 3         |           | 0         | 0         | 9         | 9          | 9          | 9          | 9          | 9          | 9          | 9          | 9          |
| 21      | Puducherry    | 0         | 0 0       | 0 0       | 0 0       | 0 0       | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0            | 0         | 0   | 0       | 0    |       | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0          | 0          | 0          | 0          | 0          | 0          | 0          | 0          |
| 22      | Punjab        | 0         |           |           |           |           | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0            | 0         | 0   | 0       | 128  |       | 128       | 0         | 0         | 0         | 128       | 128        | 128        | 128        | 128        | 128        | 128        | 128        | 128        |
| 23      | Rajasthan     | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 55        | 0         | 32        | 87        | 0         | 0         | 0         |              | 0            | 0         | 0   | 0       | 0    |       |           | 55        |           | 32        | 0         | 87         | 87         | 87         | 87         | 87         | 87         | 87         | 87         |
| 24      | Sikkim        | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 1         | 1         |           |           |           | 0 0          | 0            | 0         | 0   | 0       |      |       | 0         | 0 0 0     | 0         | 1         | 0         | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          |
| 26      | Telengana     | 0         | 3         | 0         | 0 3       | 1 0       | 0 0       | 47 24     | 48 24     | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 1 600        | 0 0       |     | 0 0 145 | 0    | 0 146 |           | 1         |           | 48        | 0         | 49         | 49         | 49         | 49         | 49         | 49         | 49         | 49         |
| 25      | Tamil Nadu    | 0         | 0         | 0         |           |           |           |           |           | 0         | 0         | 1         | 0 600        |              | 0         | 0   | 12      |      | 0     | 2         | 0         |           |           | 2050      | 208 9      | 208 9      | 208 9      | 208 9      | 208 9      | 208 9      | 208 9      | 208 9      |
| 27      | Tripura       |           |           | 0         |           |           | 0         |           | 1         | 0         | 1         | 2         |              | 103          | 0         |     | 0       | 0    |       |           | 1         | 2         | 36        | 100       | 105        | 105        | 105        | 105        | 105        | 105        | 105        | 105        |
|         |               | 0         | 1         |           | 1         | 1         |           | 0         |           |           |           |           | 100          | 0            |           |     | 0       |      |       |           |           |           | 3         |           |            |            |            | 2          |            |            |            |            |
| 28      | Uttar Pr.     | 0         | 10        | 0         | 10        | 0         | 0         | 50        | 50        | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0            | 0         | 0   | 0       | 0    |       |           | 0         | 0         | 10        | 0         |            | 60         | 60         | 60         | 60         | 60         | 60         | 60         |
| 29      | Uttarakhand   | 0         |           |           | 0         | 0 11      | 0         | 4         | 4         | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0            | 0            | 0 0       | 0   | 0       | 0    |       |           | 0         |           | 50        | 0         | 4 10       |            |            | 0          | 4          | 0          | 4 26       | 4 26       |
| 30      |               |           | 0         | 0         |           |           | 0         | 10        | 21        | 0         | 0         | 0         | 0 0          | 0            | 0         | 0   |         | 0    | 0     |           | 0 0       |           |           |           |            | 31         | 0 0 314    | 12         |            |            |            | 107        |
|         | West Bengal   | 1         | 4         | 0 0       | 5 0       | 0         | 0         | 0         |           |           |           |           |              | 107          | 0         | 0   | 0       |      |       |           |           |           |           |           |            |            |            |            |            |            |            |            |
|         | ICAR TotaL    | 0 10      | 0 69      | 7         | 86        | 93        | 8         | 262       | 0 363     | 0         |           |           | 107 6 75 561 | 6 599        | 0 0       | 308 | 0 103   |      |       | 324       |           | 0         |           | 1076      | 6          | 3          | 6          | 6          | 6          | 6          | 6          | 969        |

STL - Soil Testing Lab

MSTL- Mobile Soil Testing Lab   Str- Strengthening

*******