Methodology of the SHC Programme Sample analysis SHC distribution Outcomes/Benefits to farmers Awareness among farmers Sample collection

Challenges Banaskantha is having second biggest geographical area after Kutch Highest no. of Tehsils (14) Highest no. of villages (1241) in the state Highest no. of farmers (2,95,508) in the state Backwardness among farming communities. 8 Talukas are backward ( more than 50 % ) Poor literacy rate (65.32 % ) Vacancy is high at various cadres. Tribal and remote areas have poor connectivity. Hilly area and farmers residing at farm houses.

Challenge Sample Collection 2,97,280 Soil samples were to be collected. It is highest in the whole Gujarat. Strategy... Farmer Friends Gram sevak (village level workers) Patwari (talati), Sarpanch,primary school teacher all were involved extensively Mass gatherings of farmers during Krishimahotsav (2,12,538 farmers attended Krishimahotsav) Out come.... From 2011 to 2016 highest no. of 2,97,280 soil samples were collected within time

Challenge Sample analysis 2,97,280 soil samples were to be analysed which was a big task Strategy.. Total 7 laboratory with capacity of 80,000 sample analysis were involved. 3 days on the campus training on sample analysis to qualified staff of 5 APMCs and to students of science colleges. Equipment bank at zonal level office at Mehsana of agrl. depts. Outcome... Highest no. of 2,97,280 soil samples were analysed within time

Challege-3... SHC distribution 2,97,280 Soil health cards were to be distributed within time. Strategy Farmer Friends Gram sevak (village level workers) Patwari(talati),Sarpanch,primary school teacher all were involved extensively Krishimahotsav(Rabi and Kharif),farmer fair,farmer trainings,krishimela conducted by ATMA Out come From 2011 to 2016 highest no. of 2,97,280 soil health cards were disrtibuted within time.

Mass gathering during Rabi and kharif Krishi Mahotsav disseminating SHC training.

Strengthening lab equipment to test Micro Nutrients All the soil testing laboratories in the district are having all the necessary laboratory equipments and trained analysis staff with well furnished infrastructure. Among all seven laboratories two were strengthened for Micro Nutrients testing. In total whole Banaskantha is having soil analysing capacity of 80,000 soil samples annually.

Steps to deploy trained soil scientists fill up vacancies in to labs. There is a soil testing laboratory at Deesa. It is headed by Assistant Director of Agriculture with specialization in the field of soil and water analysis. Earlier Assistant Director of Agriculture (class II category post) and subordinate techanical staff was vacant but because of SHC programme it was filled by Government on priority.

Awareness on Soil Health Management & Celebration of World Soil Day. Soil Health Management training was given to selected farmers. celebration of world soil day on 05/12/2015 in village Lalawada, Ta-Palanpur in the presence of DDO, DAO, APMC chairman PRI representatives and 600 farmers attended this programme. World Soil Day was celebrated alongwith distribution of soil heathcard and micronutrient kit was given to farmer 1) District level :- Lalawada, Ta-Palanpur 2) Sardar Krushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University :- Deesa, Ta-Deesa

world soil day on 05/12/2015 Village- Lalawada, Ta-Palanpur

(8) Innovative measures taken such as- cadastral maps/GPS/Android devices etc for identification of grids for sample collection, locate latitude/longitude of holdings, sample collection when vacant holdings available between seasons, Measures for printing SHC cards, etc Total 1241 soil fertility map were prepared by BISAG. And displayed in Gram Panchayat office showing micronutrient status of each and every survey number of farmers. for collection of samples in ten hectare grid for unirrigated and that of for irrigated area is 2.5 hectare will be prepared by BISAG.

Soil fertility map

Sr No. YearCropped area (ha.) Fertilizer consumption(Mt.) Percentage decrease in Fertilizer consumption(%) 1.Pre SHC Programme ( ) % 2.Post SHC Programme ( ) Reduction of Chemical Fertilizer Consumption

Reduction of fertiliser consumption

Crop Productivity (kg/ha) Productivity (kg/ha) Rank in whole Gujarat Potato First Pome granate First Castor First Banaskantha is agrarian district and because of soil health card programme productivity further increased. Banaskantha has the highest Productivity of Potato, Pomegranate and Castor crop.

Making public delivery systems efficient and corruption free. The farmers were provided SHCs with free of cost. The entire scheme was closely monitored by District Agriculture Officer and DDO District Panchayat

Bhikaji solanki is a farmer from village vadgam of taluka vadgam engaged in castor cultivation

Genaji Patel a handicap farmer of Village Sarkari Golia of Lakhni Taluka engaged in Pomegranate cultivation

Parthibhai Chaudhary is farmer from Dangia Village of Dantivada Taluka engaged in Potato cultivation

Systematic changes leading to lasting improvement in Governance with regard to implementation approach, strategy and methodology. SHC is a very low cost technology. So full fledged utilization of SHCs by farmer reduces cost of cultivation of individual farmers drastically which ultimately leads to significant reduction in fertilizer use and ultimately its subsidy.

Message to farming community Towards lesser chemical fertilisers and more organic Chemical fertilisers consumption leads to numerous diseases and can even cause Cancer.