Lok Sabha Question No. 812 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-07
Subject: World Soil Day
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SUDHEER GUPTA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.812

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7 TH   FEBRUARY, 2017

## WORLD SOIL DAY

812.       SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

DR. SUNILBALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether World Soil Day was observed in 2016 in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to achieve the aims and objectives of the event;
- (c) whether any programmes were organised by the Government on this occasion and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  crop  productivity  and sustainable agriculture growth in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) to (c):     Yes, Madam.    World Soil Day was observed on 5 th December 2016 in the country. The aim and objective of the event was to spread awareness regarding importance of soil in crop  production  and  utility  of  soil  health  card  in  increasing  the  crop  production  and  saving fertilizers. The World Soil Day was organized at state headquarters as well as district / tehsil / block  level.  Events  like  deliberations,  interactions,  exhibitions  and  distribution  of  soil  health cards to farmers were organized. The event was attended by farmers, government officials and public representatives.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) also celebrated World Soil Day through its various institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).

- (d): The  following  steps  have  been  taken  to  increase  crop  productivity  and  sustainable agriculture growth:

(i)        Government  is  implementing  Soil  Health  Card  Scheme  with  the  aim  to  assist  all  State Governments to evaluate soil fertility in all farm holdings across the country and issue soil health cards to farmers. Soil health card provide 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.

(ii)          The  other  programmes / schemes being implemented to increase crop productivity and sustainable agriculture growth in the country include National Food Security Mission, Bringing Green Revolution  in  Eastern  India,  National  Mission  on  Oil  Seeds  and  Oil  Palm,  Mission  on Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture,  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojna,  National  Mission  for Sustainable Agriculture and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.

(iii)              ICAR  is  conducting  research  through  various  projects/  network  projects/  Consortia Research  Platforms  for  developing  cost  effective,  eco-friendly,  socially  acceptable  scientific farming  practices  to  increase  the  farm  productivity  and  sustained  agriculture  growth  in  the country.

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