Abstract :
The soil health card (SHC) is used to assess the current status of soil health and when used over time, helps to determine changes in soil health that are affected by land management. A SHC displays soil health indicators and associated descriptive terms. The SHC carries crop-wise recommendations of nutrients / fertilizers required for farms, making it possible for farmers to improve productivity by using appropriate inputs. The Central Government is providing assistance to State Governments for setting up soil testing laboratories for issuing such SHCs to farmers. State Governments have adopted innovative practices like involvement of agricultural students, NGOs and private sector in soil testing, determining average soil health of villages, etc., to issue SHCs. Though quite a few states including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana are successfully distributing such cards, the Centre plans to make it a pan India effort. According to a data, till November 15th 2017, over 9.72 crore soil health cards have been issued to farmers to make them aware about nutrient deficiencies in their fields.
Keyword :
soil health card, behaviour among farmers