Lok Sabha Question No. 295 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Key features of Soil Health Card Scheme
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Selvam G, Shri Navaskani K, Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 295

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  JULY, 2025

## KEY FEATURES OF SOIL HEALTH CARD SCHEME

295. SHRI C N ANNADURAI: SHRI SELVAM G: SHRI NAVASKANI K:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state?

- (a)  the  details  of  key  features  &  objectives  of  the  Soil  Health  Card  (SHC)  Scheme, including frequency of soil testing, parameters analyzed and the mode of delivery of advisory to farmers;
- (b) whether the scheme helps in promoting judicious use of fertilizers, improving crop productivity and reducing input costs, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of total number of Soil Health Cards issued to farmers in the State of Tamil Nadu since the launch of the scheme, year-wise and district-wise;
- (d)  the  financial  allocation  made  under  the  SHC  Scheme  for  Tamil  Nadu  since  its inception;
- (e) the number and type of soil testing laboratories currently operational in Tamil Nadu, including Static labs, mobile soil testing vans and mini-labs installed at Krishi Vigyan Kendras(KVKs), Agricultural Universities or Block-level offices; and
- (f)  whether  Government  proposes  to  upgrade  the  existing  soil  testing  infrastructure orintegrate it with other digital agriculture platforms for seamless service delivery and if so, details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a) to (c): Soil  Health  &  Fertility  Scheme  is  being  implemented  since  2014-15  to provide  Soil  Health  Cards  (SHCs)  for  all  farm  holdings,  to  promote  balanced  and integrated nutrient management for improving productivity and soil fertility management. Soil samples are processed as per standard procedures and analyzed for parameters such as pH, Electrical  Conductivity,  Organic  Carbon,  available  Nitrogen,  Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, and micro-nutrients (Zinc, Copper, Iron, Manganese & Boron). The

diagnostic soil health assessment of farmer fields are taken up periodically so as to issue SHCs at least once in 3 years. SHCs are issued to farmers that provide information on nutrient status of soil and recommendations on judicious dosage and type of fertilizers for improving soil health & its fertility, crop productivity and reducing input cost. Since 201415, 1,52,51,840 SHCs have been generated/distributed till date across the State of Tamil Nadu . The year-wise and district-wise SHCs issued to farmers in the State of Tamil Nadu from 2022-23 to 2025-26 as per SHC Portal (as on 16.07.2025) are given at Annexure-I.

- (d): The financial allocation of Rs.127.19 crore has been made under the Soil Health & Fertility Scheme for Tamil Nadu since inception of the scheme till date.
- (e): The number of soil testing laboratories including Static labs, mobile soil testing vans and mini-labs; established in Tamil Nadu are as under:

| S. No.   | Type of soil testing laboratories                     |   Numbers of soil testing laboratories |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| 1        | Static soil testing laboratories                      |                                     37 |
| 2        | Mobile soil testing laboratories                      |                                     21 |
| 3        | Village Level soil testing laboratories               |                                      1 |
| 4        | Krishi Vigyan Kendras(KVKs) Mini Soil testing labs    |                                     31 |
| 5        | Tamil Nadu State Agriculture University's Static Labs |                                     12 |
| 6        | School mini soil testing laboratories                 |                                     29 |
|          | Total                                                 |                                    131 |

As informed by State Government,  all 131  soil testing laboratories are operational.

- (f): Government has allowed upgradation of the existing soil testing infrastructure with Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS)/ Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometer (ICP) under the scheme. Soil Lab registry has been created online on SHC Portal as digital integration. Test results are uploaded on SHC Portal to generate Soil Health card digitally.

## Annexure-I

Year-wise and District-wise Soil Health Cards issued to farmers in the State of Tamil Nadu since inception of the scheme

| S.No   | District         | 2014-15   | Cycle I (2015-16 and 2016- 17)   | Cycle II (2017-18 and 2018- 19)   | 2019- 20   | 2022-23   | 2023-24   | 2024-25   | 2025-26 (As on 16.07.202 5)   | Total      |
|--------|------------------|-----------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-------------------------------|------------|
| 1      | Ariyalur         | 8,000     | 110,109                          | 120,886                           | 1,146      | 2,220     | 4,001     | 7,350     | 1,601                         | 255,313    |
| 2      | Chengalpattu     | -         | -                                | -                                 | -          | 3,690     | 7,299     | 9,350     | 556                           | 20,895     |
| 3      | Coimbatore       | 11,500    | 119,500                          | 116,813                           | 2,102      | 2,440     | 4,600     | 6,050     | 1,052                         | 264,057    |
| 4      | Cuddalore        | 10,000    | 320,493                          | 310,644                           | 1,247      | 7,240     | 13,800    | 20,250    | 2,910                         | 686,584    |
| 5      | Dharmapuri       | 9,000     | 210,300                          | 210,300                           | 1,048      | 2,290     | 4,900     | 10,100    | 1,359                         | 449,297    |
| 6      | Dindigul         | 8,000     | 245,053                          | 249,291                           | 1,938      | 2,890     | 6,167     | 10,050    | 1,629                         | 525,018    |
| 7      | Erode            | 12,600    | 193,779                          | 199,121                           | 1,617      | 1,940     | 4,200     | 8,774     | 2,916                         | 424,947    |
| 8      | Kallakurichi     | -         | -                                | -                                 | -          | 4,740     | 8,402     | 12,400    | 1,144                         | 26,686     |
| 9      | Kancheepura m    | 10,000    | 141,729                          | 213,656                           | 1,056      | 3,040     | 5,500     | 7,100     | 1,239                         | 383,320    |
| 10     | Kanyakumari      | 9,500     | 172,333                          | 237,482                           | 2,040      | 1,090     | 1,900     | 3,050     | 2,671                         | 430,066    |
| 11     | Karur            | 12,210    | 150,433                          | 147,121                           | 2,185      | 1,390     | 2,898     | 6,700     | 3,089                         | 326,026    |
| 12     | Krishnagiri      | 12,900    | 257,080                          | 243,205                           | 1,098      | 2,840     | 6,300     | 11,450    | 1,918                         | 536,791    |
| 13     | Madurai          | 14,800    | 257,027                          | 257,027                           | 2,044      | 4,590     | 8,451     | 11,750    | 4,123                         | 559,812    |
| 14     | Mayiladuthurai   | -         | -                                | -                                 | -          | 2,590     | 4,702     | 7,350     | -                             | 14,642     |
| 15     | Nagapatinam      | 12,110    | 147,289                          | 145,188                           | 1,603      | 2,240     | 3,900     | 7,900     | 1,473                         | 321,703    |
| 16     | Namakkal         | 12,200    | 231,949                          | 243,766                           | 1,423      | 3,340     | 6,506     | 11,950    | 1,878                         | 513,012    |
| 17     | Perambalur       | 12,500    | 127,118                          | 119,188                           | 1,345      | 1,390     | 2,500     | 5,950     | 1,880                         | 271,871    |
| 18     | Pudukottai       | 11,500    | 342,435                          | 330,797                           | 2,594      | 4,940     | 9,800     | 14,300    | 2,152                         | 718,518    |
| 19     | Ramanathapur am  | 11,000    | 218,405                          | 206,604                           | 4,046      | 4,690     | 8,600     | 13,650    | 1,189                         | 468,184    |
| 20     | Ranipet          | -         | -                                | -                                 | -          | 3,440     | 5,700     | 7,700     | 1,253                         | 18,093     |
| 21     | Salem            | 10,000    | 262,759                          | 252,388                           | 3,626      | 3,590     | 7,440     | 15,000    | 2,497                         | 557,300    |
| 22     | Sivagangai       | 7,000     | 356,489                          | 352,416                           | 1,876      | 4,640     | 8,798     | 12,700    | 1,868                         | 745,787    |
| 23     | Tenkasi          | 0         | 0                                | 0                                 | 0          | 2,490     | 3,940     | 7,150     | 1,233                         | 14,813     |
| 24     | Thanjavur        | 9,700     | 298,434                          | 289,745                           | 1,833      | 6,790     | 11,800    | 20,700    | 3,789                         | 642,791    |
| 25     | The Nilgiris     | 6,000     | 71,561                           | 70,300                            | 984        | 330       | 612       | 670       | 649                           | 151,106    |
| 26     | Theni            | 6,000     | 153,724                          | 137,573                           | 1,418      | 1,940     | 2,623     | 4,354     | 750                           | 308,382    |
| 27     | Thiruppur        | 6,000     | 121,966                          | 139,296                           | 2,569      | 4,940     | 5,135     | 9,200     | 1,630                         | 290,736    |
| 28     | Thiruvallur      | 12,200    | 198,906                          | 177,748                           | 1,115      | 4,440     | 10,436    | 14,232    | 1,874                         | 420,951    |
| 29     | Thiruvannamal ai | 12,900    | 339,508                          | 365,777                           | 2,131      | 2,440     | 17,514    | 26,852    | 3,140                         | 770,262    |
| 30     | Thiruvarur       | 12,800    | 174,578                          | 169,735                           | 1,252      | 1,940     | 8,893     | 15,700    | 1,612                         | 386,510    |
| 31     | Thoothukudi      | 9,400     | 205,435                          | 210,451                           | 1,858      | 2,890     | 8,700     | 14,950    | 2,565                         | 456,249    |
| 32     | Tiruchirapalli   | 10,010    | 303,098                          | 261,560                           | 2,612      | 5,740     | 8,300     | 12,150    | 2,375                         | 605,845    |
| 33     | Tirunelveli      | 9,500     | 269,729                          | 277,927                           | 2,339      | 8,940     | 4,076     | 5,850     | 1,220                         | 579,581    |
| 34     | Tirupathur       | -         | -                                | -                                 | -          | 4,640     | 4,000     | 6,050     | 274                           | 14,964     |
| 35     | Vellore          | 10,035    | 250,339                          | 252,115                           | 2,472      | 2,440     | 5,101     | 7,550     | 877                           | 530,929    |
| 36     | Villupuram       | 12,500    | 606,290                          | 570,154                           | 2,423      | 7,390     | 13,906    | 19,400    | 2,751                         | 1,234,814  |
| 37     | Virudhunagar     | 12,500    | 142,152                          | 138,380                           | 1,277      | 5,440     | 9,000     | 14,318    | 2,918                         | 325,985    |
|        | Total            | 324,365   | 7,000,000                        | 7,016,654                         | 58,317     | 134,050   | 250,400   | 400,000   | 68,054                        | 15,251,840 |

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