Lok Sabha Question No. 3888 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-17
Subject: Improvement of Quality of Soil
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria

O.I.H.

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3888

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  17 TH  MARCH, 2020

## IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF SOIL

## 3888.  SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any programme to improve the quality of soil in order to increase the productivity;
- (b) if so, the details of the specific programme in the country;
- (c) whether  the  Government  addresses  the  farmers  from  time  to  time  to  work  for  the improvement of the quality of soil;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken in this regard; and
- (e) the  number  of  farmers  in  districts  Tonk  and  Sawai  Madhopur  in  Rajasthan  where quality of soil has been checked?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)  & (b): Soil Health Card Scheme has been introduced in year 2014-15 to assist State Governments to issue soil health cards to all farmers in the country. 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 fertility. Soil status is assessed regularly every 2 years so that nutrient deficiencies are identified and corrective steps taken.  In  cycle-1(2015-17),  10.74  crore  and  in  cycle-2  (2017-19),  11.75  crore  SHCs were distributed to the farmers.

During  the  current  financial  year  (2019-20)    a  pilot  project  'Development  of  Model Villages' has been taken up where soil samples collection has been taken up at individual farm holding with farmers participation instead of sample collection in grids.  One village in each block has been selected by the States for implementation of the pilot project. So far 14.32 lakh soil health cards have been issued in the Model Villages.

(c) & (d): Government addresses the farmers from  time  to  time  through  trainings,  field demonstrations and farmer melas to adopt soil health card recommendations for improving soil  health  and  its  fertility.  During  2014-15  to  2019-20,  under  the  Soil  health  Card  (SHC) scheme,  so  far  1946  farmers'  trainings,  5.50  lakh  field  demonstrations  and  7425  farmer melas have been sanctioned to States.

The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  also  imparts  training,  organizes front-line demonstrations etc.  to educate farmers on all these aspects.

(e): The details of number of farmers in districts Tonk and Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan where quality of soil has been checked is as under:

| Name of District   | Year/ Scheme            |   No. of soil sample tested |
|--------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------------|
| Tonk               | Cycle-I (2015-17)       |                      112452 |
| Tonk               | Cycle-II (2017-19)      |                      126917 |
| Tonk               | Pilot Project (2019-20) |                        1446 |
| Sawai Madhopur     | Cycle-I (2015-17)       |                       69624 |
| Sawai Madhopur     | Cycle-II (2017-19)      |                       64155 |
| Sawai Madhopur     | Pilot Project (2019-20) |                        1650 |

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