Lok Sabha Question No. 649 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Enhancing the Capacity of Soil Testing Laboratories
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 649

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 th  FEBRUARY, 2024

## ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF SOIL TESTING LABORATORIES

649. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि और षकसान कल्याण मंत्री

- be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to provide state-of-theart/advanced infrastructure and equipment to improve the performance and enhance the capacity of soil testing laboratories in the country and if so, the details thereof; (b)  whether  the  Government  has  noticed  any  declining  trend  in  indiscriminate  use  of urea  in  States  like  Rajasthan,  Haryana,  Uttar  Pradesh  and  Punjab  after  issuing  Soil Health Cards (SHC) and testing of soil in laboratories and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether any financial shortage has been reported in the implementation of the said Scheme and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether any corrective measures have been taken by the Government in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and (e)  the  details  of  the  amount  spent  on  SHC  compared  to  the  total  amount  allocated

during the last three years and the current year, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि और षकसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

- (a) Government  has  provided  the  state-of-the-  art/  advanced  infrastructure  and equipment  to  improve  the  performance  and  enhance  the  capacity  of  Soil  Testing Laboratories (STLs) under the Soil Health & Fertility Scheme in the country by setting

O.I.H

up of new STLs with required equipments and Strengthening of Existing STLs with Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) and Inductively Coupled  Plasma (ICP) with other equipments as these are equipped with advanced technology ( list of equipments are at Annexure-I ). One of the key advantages of AAS is its exceptional accuracy and precision in quantifying the concentration  of  various  elements  in  a  sample.  The  advanced technology  and  calibration  capabilities  of  AAS  ensure  reliable  and  reproducible  results, making it a trusted tool in elemental analysis. The most important advantage of ICP is its multi-element capability, which allows multiple elements to be measured simultaneously in a  single  analyte.  Since,  2014-15,  total  8272  Soil  Testing  Labs  (1068  Static  Soil  Testing Labs, 163 Mobile Soil Testing Labs, 6376 Mini Soil Testing Labs and 665 Village Level Soil Testing Labs) have been established across the country. Apart from this, 880 existing Static Soil Testing Labs have also been strengthened.

(b) In order to ensure judicious use of fertilizers, Government of India is implementing Soil Health & Fertility Scheme since 2015 to assist State Governments to issue Soil Health Cards  to  farmers  in  the  country.    Soil  Health  Card  provides  information  to  farmers  on nutrients status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of fertilizer to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.

(c) to (e) No such financial shortage has been reported in the implementation of the said Scheme. Under the Scheme, Rs.2585.28 crore has been allocated the States/ Union Territories since 2014-15. The financial assistance is provided @ Rs.300/- per Soil Health Card under the Scheme, which includes cost of soil sample collection, cost of reagent and cost  of  awareness  generation  to  farmers.  Details  of  State-wise  fund  allocated,  released and  expenditure  during  the  last  three  years  and  current  year  under  the  Soil  Health  & Fertility Scheme are at Annexure-II.

## List of equipments for setting up of Soil Testing Laboratory

|   S. No. | Name of equipments                                                                                                 |
|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Inductively coupled Plasma Spectrophotometer/ Atomic Spectrophotometer (ICP/ AAS)                                  |
|        2 | Conductivity Meter                                                                                                 |
|        3 | pH Meter                                                                                                           |
|        4 | Shaking Apparatus                                                                                                  |
|        5 | Electronic Balance                                                                                                 |
|        6 | Analytical Balance/Top Loading balance                                                                             |
|        7 | Drying Oven                                                                                                        |
|        8 | Computer with appropriate software                                                                                 |
|        9 | Table Top Centrifuge                                                                                               |
|       10 | GPS System with Mobile Phone                                                                                       |
|       11 | Miscellaneous equipments such as distillation unit, Sieving system, Auto titrators, bar code scanner & printer etc |

## Annexure-II

## State-wise details of the fund allocation, released and expenditure during the last three years and the current year under the scheme Soil Health & Fertility Scheme

## (Rs. In lakh)

| Sl.   | Name of the State   | 2020-21                                                                                                                                           | 2020-21                                                                                                                                           | 2020-21                                                                                                                                           | 2021-22                                                                                                                                           | 2021-22                                                                                                                                           | 2021-22                                                                                                                                           | 2022-23                                                                                                                                           | 2022-23                                                                                                                                           | 2022-23                                                                                                                                           | 2023-24                                                                                                                                           | 2023-24                                                                                                                                           | 2023-24                                                                                                                                           | Total                                                                                                                                             | Total                                                                                                                                             | Total                                                                                                                                             |
|-------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No.   |                     | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure | AllocatedReleasedExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure AllocatedReleased Expenditure Allocated Released ExpenditureAllocatedReleasedExpenditure |
| 1     | Madhya Pradesh      | 1738.52                                                                                                                                           | 334.67                                                                                                                                            | 334.67                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 8377.86                                                                                                                                           | 2094.45                                                                                                                                           | 1959.38                                                                                                                                           | 3216.00                                                                                                                                           | 1000.00                                                                                                                                           | -                                                                                                                                                 | 13332.38                                                                                                                                          | 3429.12                                                                                                                                           | 2294.05                                                                                                                                           |
| 2     | Uttar Pradesh       | 2769.77                                                                                                                                           | 4312.74                                                                                                                                           | 4312.74                                                                                                                                           | 408.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1134.50                                                                                                                                           | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1772.00                                                                                                                                           | 1772.00                                                                                                                                           | -                                                                                                                                                 | 6084.27                                                                                                                                           | 6084.74                                                                                                                                           | 4312.74                                                                                                                                           |
| 3     | Assam               | 2420.70                                                                                                                                           | 1621.18                                                                                                                                           | 1413.86                                                                                                                                           | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 801.87                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1613.00                                                                                                                                           | 403.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 4835.57                                                                                                                                           | 2024.18                                                                                                                                           | 1413.86                                                                                                                                           |
| 4     | Bihar               | 1827.66                                                                                                                                           | 685.05                                                                                                                                            | 685.05                                                                                                                                            | 405.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1241.14                                                                                                                                           | 310.28                                                                                                                                            | 310.28                                                                                                                                            | 683.00                                                                                                                                            | 771.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 4156.80                                                                                                                                           | 1766.33                                                                                                                                           | 995.33                                                                                                                                            |
| 5     | Nagaland            | 1453.96                                                                                                                                           | 1099.93                                                                                                                                           | 1099.93                                                                                                                                           | 1485.00                                                                                                                                           | 747.89                                                                                                                                            | 747.89                                                                                                                                            | 713.96                                                                                                                                            | 1024.21                                                                                                                                           | 1024.21                                                                                                                                           | 170.00                                                                                                                                            | 736.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 3822.92                                                                                                                                           | 3608.03                                                                                                                                           | 2872.03                                                                                                                                           |
| 6     | Haryana             | 1844.39                                                                                                                                           | 53.27                                                                                                                                             | 53.27                                                                                                                                             | 117.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1220.94                                                                                                                                           | 453.91                                                                                                                                            | 453.91                                                                                                                                            | 455.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 3637.33                                                                                                                                           | 507.18                                                                                                                                            | 507.18                                                                                                                                            |
| 7     | Tamil Nadu          | 899.84                                                                                                                                            | 865.46                                                                                                                                            | 857.36                                                                                                                                            | 294.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 999.49                                                                                                                                            | 499.74                                                                                                                                            | 499.43                                                                                                                                            | 1002.00                                                                                                                                           | 501.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 3195.33                                                                                                                                           | 1866.20                                                                                                                                           | 1356.79                                                                                                                                           |
| 8     | Odisha              | 1603.70                                                                                                                                           | 1308.63                                                                                                                                           | 1308.63                                                                                                                                           | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 826.20                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 668.00                                                                                                                                            | 316.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 3097.90                                                                                                                                           | 1624.63                                                                                                                                           | 1308.63                                                                                                                                           |
| 9     | West Bengal         | 1029.52                                                                                                                                           | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 72.00                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 667.08                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 996.00                                                                                                                                            | 498.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 2764.60                                                                                                                                           | 498.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 |
| 10    | Karnataka           | 1340.65                                                                                                                                           | 1309.57                                                                                                                                           | 1309.57                                                                                                                                           | 15.00                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 451.53                                                                                                                                            | 112.99                                                                                                                                            | 61.03                                                                                                                                             | 671.00                                                                                                                                            | 420.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 2478.18                                                                                                                                           | 1842.56                                                                                                                                           | 1370.60                                                                                                                                           |
| 11    | Andhra Pradesh      | 891.88                                                                                                                                            | 891.88                                                                                                                                            | 445.94                                                                                                                                            | 168.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 436.90                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 952.00                                                                                                                                            | 420.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 2448.78                                                                                                                                           | 1311.88                                                                                                                                           | 445.94                                                                                                                                            |
| 12    | Maharashtra         | 615.15                                                                                                                                            | 370.75                                                                                                                                            | 370.75                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 599.79                                                                                                                                            | 393.63                                                                                                                                            | 393.63                                                                                                                                            | 1162.00                                                                                                                                           | 581.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 2376.94                                                                                                                                           | 1345.38                                                                                                                                           | 764.38                                                                                                                                            |
| 13    | Rajasthan           | 1125.53                                                                                                                                           | 1328.34                                                                                                                                           | 463.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 287.52                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 871.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 2284.05                                                                                                                                           | 1328.34                                                                                                                                           | 463.00                                                                                                                                            |
| 14    | Uttarakhand         | 883.62                                                                                                                                            | 850.18                                                                                                                                            | 850.18                                                                                                                                            | 153.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 479.90                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 495.00                                                                                                                                            | 124.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 2011.52                                                                                                                                           | 974.18                                                                                                                                            | 850.18                                                                                                                                            |
| 15    | Gujarat             | 893.97                                                                                                                                            | 369.07                                                                                                                                            | 369.07                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 8.23                                                                                                                                              | 8.23                                                                                                                                              | 331.67                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 661.00                                                                                                                                            | 605.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1886.64                                                                                                                                           | 982.30                                                                                                                                            | 377.30                                                                                                                                            |
| 16    | Chhattisgarh        | 686.60                                                                                                                                            | 301.61                                                                                                                                            | 286.41                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 579.87                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 505.00                                                                                                                                            | 126.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1771.47                                                                                                                                           | 427.61                                                                                                                                            | 286.41                                                                                                                                            |
| 17    | Jharkhand           | 873.28                                                                                                                                            | 403.74                                                                                                                                            | 51.70                                                                                                                                             | 45.00                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 316.10                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 414.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1648.38                                                                                                                                           | 403.74                                                                                                                                            | 51.70                                                                                                                                             |
| 18    | Punjab              | 750.80                                                                                                                                            | 1308.87                                                                                                                                           | 366.65                                                                                                                                            | 204.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 119.75                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 465.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1539.55                                                                                                                                           | 1308.87                                                                                                                                           | 366.65                                                                                                                                            |
| 19    | Arunachal Pradesh   | 517.64                                                                                                                                            | 469.16                                                                                                                                            | 469.16                                                                                                                                            | 202.50                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 459.41                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 118.00                                                                                                                                            | 31.00                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1297.55                                                                                                                                           | 500.16                                                                                                                                            | 469.16                                                                                                                                            |
| 20    | Telangana           | 249.60                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 120.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 151.80                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 696.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1217.40                                                                                                                                           | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 |
| 21    | Kerala              | 188.93                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 570.02                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 410.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1168.95                                                                                                                                           | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 |
| 22    | Himachal Pradesh    | 827.05                                                                                                                                            | 454.29                                                                                                                                            | 454.29                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 102.82                                                                                                                                            | 25.71                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | 192.00                                                                                                                                            | 48.00                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1121.87                                                                                                                                           | 527.99                                                                                                                                            | 454.29                                                                                                                                            |
| 23    | Manipur             | 830.39                                                                                                                                            | 536.26                                                                                                                                            | 536.26                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 68.85                                                                                                                                             | 52.00                                                                                                                                             | 52.00                                                                                                                                             | 178.00                                                                                                                                            | 95.00                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | 1077.24                                                                                                                                           | 683.26                                                                                                                                            | 588.26                                                                                                                                            |
| 24    | Tripura             | 188.98                                                                                                                                            | 137.68                                                                                                                                            | 137.68                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 123.93                                                                                                                                            | 30.98                                                                                                                                             | 30.98                                                                                                                                             | 449.00                                                                                                                                            | 113.00                                                                                                                                            | 89.61                                                                                                                                             | 761.91                                                                                                                                            | 281.66                                                                                                                                            | 258.27                                                                                                                                            |
| 25    | Goa                 | 86.39                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 216.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 116.28                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 124.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 542.67                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 |
| 26    | Meghalaya           | 258.11                                                                                                                                            | 139.44                                                                                                                                            | 139.44                                                                                                                                            | 45.00                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 36.22                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 173.00                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 512.33                                                                                                                                            | 139.44                                                                                                                                            | 139.44                                                                                                                                            |
| 27    | Mizoram             | 206.05                                                                                                                                            | 118.84                                                                                                                                            | 118.84                                                                                                                                            | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                                 | 89.02                                                                                                                                             | 97.20                                                                                                                                             | 97.20                                                                                                                                             | 115.00                                                                                                                                            | 29.00                                                                                                                                             | -                                                                                                                                                 | 410.07                                                                                                                                            | 245.04                                                                                                                                            | 216.04                                                                                                                                            |
| 28    | Sikkim              | 65.23                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                   | 49.61                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                   | -                                                                                                                                                 | 369.88                                                                                                                                            | 601.25                                                                                                                                            | 336.57                                                                                                                                            |
| 29    | Union Territories   | 1398.01                                                                                                                                           | 49.61 674.67                                                                                                                                      | 674.67                                                                                                                                            | - 307.00                                                                                                                                          | 120.30 -                                                                                                                                          | 119.62 -                                                                                                                                          | 216.65 1992.37                                                                                                                                    | 167.34 -                                                                                                                                          | 167.34 -                                                                                                                                          | 88.00 208.00                                                                                                                                      | 264.00 188.00                                                                                                                                     | -                                                                                                                                                 | 3905.38                                                                                                                                           | 862.67                                                                                                                                            | 674.67                                                                                                                                            |
| Total | Total               | 28465.9219994.85 17158.70                                                                                                                         | 28465.9219994.85 17158.70                                                                                                                         | 28465.9219994.85 17158.70                                                                                                                         | 4256.50                                                                                                                                           | 876.42                                                                                                                                            | 875.74                                                                                                                                            | 23513.44                                                                                                                                          | 5262.44                                                                                                                                           | 5049.39                                                                                                                                           | 19522.00                                                                                                                                          | 9041.00                                                                                                                                           | 89.61                                                                                                                                             | 75757.8635174.71                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                   | 23173.44                                                                                                                                          |

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