Soil Health Card issue behind target

With barely two weeks to go for the target date to issue Soil Health Cards to all 140 million farmers in the country, the Centre has collected about 25.3 mn soil samples, enough to generate a card for all. Officials say almost 80 per cent of the samples have been tested. The samples are valid for three years; recollection is then needed, to check for changes in nutrient content.

However, issue of cards is still behind schedule. As of March 7, a little over 55 mn cards had been issued, around 40 per cent. The programme was announced in 2015.

The Union Budget for 2016-17 had allocated ~368 crore. The one for 2017-18 says mini labs were be set up in all 648 Krishi Vigyan Kendras. And, to fund the setting up of 1,000 mini labs by qualified local entrepreneurs, for which a credit-linked subsidy will be given.