States distributes 1.12 cr soil health cards to farmers

State governments have so far distributed 1.12 crore soil health cards to farmers and are expected to provide another 2 crore by the end of next month.
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh yesterday reviewed Soil Health Card Scheme with Secretaries Agriculture/ Directors (Agriculture) of States.
The government plans to distribute 14 crore soil health cards by 2017. In the current fiscal, Rs 100 crore has been allocated to states for making soil health cards and set up labs.
"By now the states have distributed 1.12 crore soil health cards and 2 core cards are under printing, which will also be distributed before March, 2016," an official statement said.

"Against the target of 104 lakh soil samples, the states have reported collection of 81 lakh soil samples and tested 52 lakh soil samples," it added.
In his opening remarks, Singh said the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme is an important scheme of the government that aims at promoting soil test based and balanced use of fertilisers to enable farmers realize higher yields at lower cost.

It was observed that States like Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim, Gujarat, Bihar, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand have shown good performance in soil sample collection.

Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa and Sikkim have shown good performance in distribution of Soil Health Card and they are expected to achieve the target by March 2016.
Singh asked the other States to expedite on their performance to complete the target as per time scheduled.
The minister also stressed upon building network of soil testing laboratories.
The guidelines of the scheme have been amended to set up soil testing labs as well as mini labs through Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) implemented through NABARD.
Singh reviewed setting up of soil testing labs. Most of the states are under the process of tender for purchase of equipment for the labs.

He advised the states to use the funds released by the Centre and set up more laboratories with facility for micronutrient testing. States were asked to promote portable mini labs and position them at Block/Panchayat level so that target is achieved in time.