Lok Sabha Question No. 146 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-11
Subject: World Soil Day
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, P.R. SUNDARAM, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 146

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## WORLD SOIL DAY

146.     SHRI  DHANANJAY MAHADIK: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR  GAVIT: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: SHRI P.R.  SUNDARAM: DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: SHRI  MOHITE  PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO

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

- (a) whether the Government is going to observe World Soil Day;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the theme and focus of the event;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to achieve the aims and objectives of the event;
- (d) whether any programmes are going to be organized by the Government on this occasion and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the amount earmarked and utilized for this purpose; and
- (f) 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 (e): December  5 th is  observed  as  World  Soil  Day  every  year.    During  current  year (2018) various events for improving soil health and its fertility are being organized such as 7 days video / audio spot campaign on various TV channels/ FM Radio stations, online contests on poster making, slogan writing, video spots and quiz contest on MyGov portal.

Apart from this, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through its Krishi Vigyan Kendras  (KVKs)  and  State  Governments  observe World  Soil  Day  through  distribution  of  soil health cards to farmers, organizing farmer camps, workshops, exhibition etc.

State Governments have been advised to take up various activities for furtherance of the aims and objectives of the said event.

Funds amounting to Rs. 80.97 lakh have been earmarked for the purpose.

(f): The steps taken to increase crop productivity and sustainable agriculture growth are:

(i) Soil  Health  Card  (SHC)  Scheme  has  been  introduced  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,

(ii) ICAR  has  developed  location  specific,  cost  effective,  eco-friendly  farming  practices; namely resource conservation technologies (zero tillage, laser leveling, bed planting, system of rice intensification, direct seeding of rice), climate resilient technologies, and Integrated Farming System keeping in view the farmers' resource availability.

(iii) Sub-Mission  on  seed  and  Planting  Material  in  being  implementation  through  State/UT Departments of Agriculture, State seed Corporations, State Seed Certification Agencies,   etc. to develop/ strengthen seed sector and to enhance production and multiplication of high yielding certified/quality seeds of all agricultural crops an making it available to the farmers at affordable prices.

(iv) Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  is  implemented  in  all State/UTs for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo.  The Mission  envisages  production  and  productivity  improvement  of  horticulture  through  various interventions such as production of planting material, vegetable seed production, rejuvenation of senile orchards,  etc.

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