The scheme of the soil health card was mainly introduced by the Prime Minister of India. It had been initiated mainly for the welfare and development of the farmers. This scheme claims to help the farmer so that they get information about the crops, which can be seeded and planted on the basis of the soil, using proper scientific processes.
Through this process, it is possible for the farmers to obtain most yield through the harvest of the crops. This scheme was based on the analysis and following the scheme, the farmers will be given a soil health card which can help to find out the type of crops which can be used for cultivation in that specific type of soil. It also helps to measure the development of the productivity of the specific crops. The following passages deal with the issue of the soil health card in full details.
Objective of the Scheme
Generally, farmers are not profoundly educated and no standard guideline existed which can test the samples of the soil. For this reason, the farmers were not very certain about the results of the cultivation they did. Because of the newly introduced soil health card scheme, the farmers are now more cautious about the features of the soil and they have the knowledge of the proper fertilizers which are to be used in order to improve their productivity. Not only that, the farmers can also get consultation from the experts who will help them understand the scheme. This card of the soil health is given to the farmers after every three years.
Properties of the Soil Health Card
The card has some special properties or features. This are touched upon below.
- The intention of the scheme is to cover over 14 crore of farmers
- The implementation of the scheme is to be done nation-wide
- The card acts as a guide to the farmers which lets them know about the features of the soil and decide which crop can be planted and cultivated in that area.
Functions of the Scheme
The authority who is in charge of the soil health card scheme collect samples of soil from various parts. These samples then, are delivered to the laboratories where the samples are tested and where the specialists will test the samples and give an output. The staff who work at the Department of Agriculture under the State Government collect the samples of the soil with the help of GPS tools and the revenue maps in the grid format of 2.5 ha of irrigated area and around 10 ha of rain-fed area.
After the tests are done, the specialists analyze the samples of the soil and note down the weaknesses and strengths of the soil. If improvement in the nutrients in the soil is required after testing, then the experts will suggest how to make those changes. All of these information has been included in the soil cards given to the farmer by the State Government in a detailed manner. In order to obtain a card like this, the farmer has to pay a fee of Rs 190 for each sample of soil to the government so that they can conduct the tests to give good results.
The area of expenses included in the soil health card are as follows.
- Cost of the collection of the sample of the soil
- Generation of the soil card
- Distribution of the soil cards to the farmers.
Details of the Soil Health Card
The details given below are mentioned in the soil health card.
- Additional features of the soil.
- Functional features of the soil.
- Measures to improve the problems of the soil.
- The health of the soil.
- The water content and nutrients present in the soil.
Advantages of the Soil Health Card
- The authorities will have to provide a report to the farmers one time in every 3 years after examining the soil on a regular basis. This enables the farmers not to be very concerned about the plantation or cultivation even if the soil alters due to the natural interference.
- The farmers are also provided with proper advice by the specialists which will enable them to improve the productivity of the crops they have planted and the methods which are required that have to be exercised so that they can implement the changes.
- Information of the nutrients needed by the soil will be provided to the farmers timely.
- Notification will be given to the farmers about the type of the soil so that they can plant their crops accordingly.
- The Government looks after so that the same person carries out all the analysis of the soil so that they can make further changes that can be done if required.
Test of the Soil
Each year, the sample of the soil are to be collected twice after the harvest of the Kharif and Rabi crops when no crop is left on the respective field. The staff of the government will collect those samples. During this process, the soil has to be dug in the shape of V with a 15 to 20 cm of depth. The staff will also code the samples. After that, the samples will be sent to test laboratories for examination. There are provisions of mobile laboratories which helps immensely to conduct research on the sample of the soils in remote areas in order to make the full use of the soil health card scheme.
For more information contact Company Vakil experts.
