1. Soil Health Card DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATION
INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT {INM} DIVISION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATION
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

3. Soil Health Card Scheme
Soil Health Card (SHC) provides information to the farmers on soil acidity/salinity/alkalinity and nutrient content.
Scheme proposes for issue of SHC along with soil test-based site-specific fertilizer recommendations, once in every 3 years.
Soil testing will be done following uniform sampling and soil analysis procedures.

4. Why new Scheme on SHC?
GOI provides assistance to State Govts under SHM component of NMSA, for
Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs)
- Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories (MSTLs)
Soil testing kits
Soil analysis and distribution of SHCs is carried out by the State Governments.
No uniform norms are followed by states in this exercise.
There is a need to devise a mechanism to issue SHCs every 3 years in respect of all landholdings in order to promote site-specific nutrient management involving soil test-based application of fertilizers.

5. Objectives of the SHC Scheme
To issue SHCs every 3 years to all farmers of the country.
To strengthen functioning of Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) through capacity building, involvement of agriculture students and effective linkage with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)/State Agricultural Universities (SAUs). 
To diagnose soil fertility with standardized uniform procedures for sampling and analysis across the states.
To develop and promote soil test-based nutrient management by designing fertilizer recommendation in targeted districts.
To build capacities of district and state level staff and of progressive farmers for promotion of balanced and integrated nutrient management.

6. Project Duration: 12th Five Year Plan
The scheme will provide assistance to the State Governments to issue Soil Health Cards periodically, at 3 year interval.
1st year: 3.12 crore SHCs from analysis of 55 lakh soil samples
2nd year: 5.47 crore SHCs from analysis of 97 lakh samples
3rd year: 5.41 crore SHCs from analysis of 96 lakh soil samples
Thus across the states 14 crore Soil Health Cards will be issued during remaining 3 year period of the Plan.
In all, 248 lakh soil samples will be tested and 14 crore soil health cards generated.

7. Component 1: The Soil Health Card
Uniform norms for soil sampling
- In irrigated areas large, medium and semi-medium holdings (size more than 2.5 ha) will be sampled and tested holding-wise. In case of marginal & small holdings, sampling in a 2.5 ha grid will be followed.
- In rainfed areas, all large holdings (size more than 10 ha) will be sampled and tested holding-wise. In case of medium, semi-medium, small & marginal holdings, samples will be collected and tested in a 10 ha grid.
- States have to develop plan of action for soil sampling involving students and SAUs.

8. Component 1: The Soil Health Card (Contd…2/-)
Nutrient Recommendations
- Based on soil testing, recommendations are made in terms of nutrient requirement and also in terms of fertilizer quantity for easy understanding of farmers.
- SHCs could be distributed to farmers in soil testing campaigns/ Kisaan Melas.

9. Component 1: The Soil Health Card
(Contd…3/-)
S. No.
Activities/Components
Total Expenditure per STL 1
Sampling Rs 22 per sample x10,000
2,20,000 2
Engagement of contractual services & training per STL
1,90,000 3
Analysis of soil samples (10,000 x Rs. 75) i.e. cost of reagents + Misc. Exp. (Rs. 70,000 per STL)
8,20,000 4
Rs. 5 per SHC (10 SHCs per sample for 10,000 soil samples)
5,00,000 5
Distribution of SHCs per Rs 500 per GP (Rs. 500 x 110GP)
55,000 6
Demonstrations (10 Rs. 4,000 per demonstration + Rs. 5,000
45,000 7
Awareness/mission management per STL
22,000 8
5 GPS for each Rs. 6,000 per GPS
30,000 9
Total funds required per STL of 10,000 sample capacity
18,82,000
Cost of one Sample
Rs. 190/-

11. Expenditure involved (Rs.)
No.
Components
Expenditure involved (Rs.) 1.
Boarding and Rs per person per day for 20 participants
40,000 2.
Stationary & Soil testing manual
5,000 3.
Honorarium to guest speaker @ Rs. 1,000 for 5 speakers 4.
Accommodation charges for Halls & other training facilities including lab work
10,000 5.
Training for one orientation module/STL
60,000 6.
Cost for 800 orientation training module for
480 lakh 7.
Cost for 500 orientation training module for
300 lakh 8.
Cost for 200 orientation training module for
120 lakh
Total
900 lakh
Component 2:
Training for soil analysis
One-week hands-on orientation training to soil chemists, students/JRFs for soil analysis and fertilizer recommendation in the batches of 20 participants will be organized at SAUs/ICAR Institutes.

12. Component 3 : Financial assistance for nutrient application
Components
Expenditure involved (Rs.)
Gypsum/ phospho- gypsum/ bentonite sulphur
50% of the cost of material limited to Rs per ha
Micronutrients
50% of the cost limited to Rs. 500 per ha
All Bio-fertilisers
50% of the cost limited to Rs. 300 per ha
Lime/liming materials
50% of the cost of material limited to Rs per ha
Total
Rs per ha
Cost for 1st year
(60,000 farmers)
Rs. 15 crore
Cost for 2nd year
(90,000 farmers)
Rs crore
Cost for 3rd year
Rs crore
Component 3 : Financial assistance for nutrient application
In the target villages, financial assistance for soil test-based nutrient balancing will be provided to farmers. Willing farmers will be registered for application of recommended doses through organic and inorganic nutrients.

13. Component 4: Capacity building, monitoring and evaluation
Orientation for technical and line staff will be conducted by states with technical backstopping from SAUs/ICAR institutions.
Coordination committees will be constituted in the target districts for facilitating implementation for balanced nutrient practices.
Identified farmers will be registered for financial support for adoption of nutrient packages.

14. Abstract of financial norms for capacity building
S.No.
Activities/Components
Total expenditure
(Rs. in Crores) 1
Training for farmers
Rs. 24,000 x 20 trainings x 29 States
1.39 2
Training for staff: Rs. 36,000 x 20 trainings x 29 States
2.09 3
Rs lakh x 29 States
3.75 4
Workshops @ 1.5 lakh x 29 States
0.44
Total for States (each year)
7.67

15. Component 5: Mission Management
No.
Activities/Components
Expenditure (Rs. in lakhs)
1st Year 1.
Staff at national level Rs lakhs x 12
36.00 2.
Staff at state level Rs lakhs x 29
97.15
Total
133.15
2nd Year
Staff at national level Rs lakhs x 12
54.00
Staff at state level Rs lakhs x 29
146.00
200.00
3rd Year
Total for 3 years
Staff at national level
144.00
Staff at state level
389.15
533.15
For Mission Management, Advisors/Consultants, Programme Manager, Senior Programmer, Technical Assistants, part-time Consultants, Stenographer, Data Entry Operators and Attendants/ Peons will be engaged on remuneration/ honorarium paid to similar staff engaged in Mission Management Cells/ Technical Support Groups established for other plan schemes or mission being implemented by DAC in consultation with IFD.

16. Year-wise budget requirement (Rs. in crores)
No.
Component
Total 1.
Soil Health Rs.190/sample
1st Year: 55 lakh; 2nd Year: 97 lakh
3rd Year: 96 lakh; Total: 248 lakh
104.50
184.30
182.40
471.20 2.
Training for technical staff
@ Rs. 60,000/- training
1st Yr: 800 trainings; 2nd Yr: 500 trainings
3rd Yr: 200 trainings; Total: 1500 trainings
4.80
3.00
1.20
9.00 3.
Financial assistance @ Rs. 2500/ha
1st Yr: 60,000 farmers; 2nd Yr: 90,000 farmers; 3rd Yr: 90,000 farmers
Total: 2,40,000 farmers
15.00
22.50
60.00 4.
Capacity building and use of ICT in states
7.67
23.01 5.
Mission Management
1.33
2.00
5.33
Grand Total
133.30
219.47
215.77
568.54
GOI share 75%
99.98
164.60
161.83
426.41
State share 25%
33.32
54.87
53.94
142.13

17. Scheme Implementation
The implementation will be coordinated by Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) Division, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC), Ministry of Agriculture at National level, through State Governments. State may designate agencies or go for outsourcing.
State Govt. may outsource following activities:
Soil sampling involving students, farmers, field extension machinery, etc.
Analysis of soil samples involving science/ agriculture students, JRF of SAUs, ICAR, etc.
Use of ICT for database management for faster delivery of soil health cards
Preparation and distribution of soil health cards
Extension services to disseminate crop-specific nutrient management practices

18. Project implementation and monitoring
(a) National Steering Committee (NSC) under Chairmanship of Secretary (A&C)
Policy formulating body giving overall direction and guidance to the Mission, monitor and review its progress and performance.
Empowered to lay down and amend operational guidelines other than those affecting financial pattern. NSC shall meet at least two times in a year.
(b) Executive Committee (EC)
Oversee activities of the Mission and approve Action Plans of various states in accordance with the prescribed norms.
Empowered to reallocate resources across States and components and approve projects on the basis of approved financial assistance norms.
INM Division (DAC) will provide:
Guidance in organizational and technical matters. 
Engage technical experts in order to cater the diversified requirements of the mission in an efficient and time bound manner.
1% of the annual outlay of the Mission will be earmarked for incurring administrative and other contingent expenses.

19. State Level Executive Committee (SLEC)
Approve Annual Action Plan prepared by the State nodal Department.
Oversee the implementation of Mission components through regular meetings with the nodal and other line Departments.
Provide inputs to the Executive Committee for appropriate policy formulation.
Monitoring
The Mission envisages a coordinated approach for monitoring and evaluation with active involvement of implementing agencies, beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
A combination of periodic desk review, field visits, and web-based mechanism will be adopted for release of funds, physical and financial progress and monitoring the progress of Mission interventions at National level by INM Division in the DAC.

20. State-wise number of Operational Holdings and SHCs issued to the farmers in the Eastern States
State/UTs
Operational Holdings (No. in lakh)
SHCs issued
till March 2013
(No. in lakh)
SHCs as per cent of Operational Holdings
Assam
27.20
6.33
23.27
Bihar
161.91
10.70
6.60
Chhattisgarh
37.46
5.67
15.13
Jharkhand
27.09
1.73
6.38
Orissa
46.67
23.41
50.16
Uttar Pradesh
233.25
150.18
64.38
West Bengal
71.23
3.50
4.91
ALL INDIA
569.34
41.15

21. Soil Testing Laboratories in Eastern States, their Analyzing Capacity, and Utilization (2013-14)
No. of STLs
Total
Annual
Analyzing
Capacity
('000)
Samples
Analyzed
Utilization
(%)
State Govt.
Fert. Industry
Static
Mobile
Chhattisgarh 7 5 4 8 13
105.00
116.02
110.50
Uttar Pradesh
255 18 3
260 21
281
81.85
Bihar 39
230.00
248.71
108.13
Jharkhand
40.00
10.67
26.68
Odisha 17 6 1 24
270.00
255.06
94.47
West Bengal 10 2 20
112.40
60.43
53.76
Assam 11
84.00
60.76
72.33
ALL INDIA
343 41 9
354 42
396
5396.9
547.72

22. States-wise number of Static and Mobile STLs sanctioned during (2014-15)
Static STLs
Mobile STLs
Assam 2 -
Bihar 6
Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand
West Bengal 1 4
Uttar Pradesh 10
Total 3 20

23. Soil fertility status in respect of micronutrients in Eastern States
Samples analyzed
% samples deficient in
Samples analyzed for Boron (B)
% samples deficient in B
Zinc
(Zn)
Copper
(Cu)
Iron
(Fe)
Manganese
(Mn)
Assam
3,830
23.8
0.31
0.00
3830
16.5
Bihar
10,223
55.7
4.01
8.37
6.53
3788
30.5
Chattisgarh
N/A
Jharkhand
3,788
9.8
5.60
0.89
1.05
2564
65.9
Odisha
12,200
11.3
1.25
0.80
8956
66.5
Uttar Pradesh
15,131
6.04
8.92
8.29
7158
24.3
West Bengal
1,657
41.6
12.16
0.93
2.06
1657
68.4

24. Future Strategy
Issue of SHCs to be taken-up in Mission mode in the Eastern states as vast untapped potential lies there for enhancing crop productivity through balanced fertilization.
Capacity utilization of STLs needs to be increased. Except Odisha and Assam, all States have capacity utilization less than 50%.
Annual Action Plan for under SHC scheme to be submitted by States for timely release of funds.

25. Suggestions for preparation of Annual Action Plan (AAP)
Determine the target number of samples for for each mandal/ block, taluka, district and finally the State as a whole (preferably 1/3 of total holdings) duly considering the rainfed and irrigated holdings.
Assess analyzing capacity existing in Government, fertilizer industry and private STLs in order to determine the number of samples that can be allotted or outsourced in the year. Accordingly, allocation to the laboratories/agencies may be finalized through a tender or other procedure for analyzing the collected samples.
Prepare a schedule for soil sampling during lean period i.e. April/May along with the agencies to be involved in sampling. For example, if in year 1 the number of samples to be tested is 4.24 lakh and your total capacity is 2.06 lakh, you may have to plan for MSTLs or outsourcing.
Plan the schedule for soil analysis once the samples are stored at designated place, such as Block Agriculture Office. The allocation of samples to various laboratories may be completed by June.

26. Suggestions for preparation of AAP Contd …..
Each STL has annual capacity of 10,000 samples or about 1,000 samples per month. We may aim to complete block-wise/district-wise samples in two month time. Once testing is completed, the data base may be used for printing of SHCs.
Distribution of SHCs may be scheduled in lean months, preferably in kisaan melas, so as to have direct interaction with farmers. They need to be educated at Gram Panchayat or block level on how to use the SHCs.
Methods of soil testing and format of SHCs vary among States. Therefore, single, generic and uniform web-based software is under development by National Informatics Centre (NIC) under NeGP- Agriculture Mission Mode Project for online generation of ‘SHC and fertilizer recommendations’.

27. Thank You

28. Number of soil samples and SHCs as per land use and class of holding
Net Area sown (Mha)
Wholly Irrigated Area (Mha)
Rainfed Area (Mha)
Average size of holding (ha)
No. of Soil Samples (Million)
No. of SHCs (Million)
Irrigated
Rainfed
Total
Marginal 32 15 17
0.39 6
(15/2.5)
1.7
(17/10)
7.7 93
Small 11 21
1.42
4.4
(11/2.5)
2.1
(21/10)
6.5 25
Semi-Medium 34 23
2.71
4.0
(11/2.71)
2.3
(23/10)
6.3 14
Medium 29 10 19
5.76
(10/5.76)
1.9
(19/10)
3.6
Large 4
17.38
0.2
(5/17.38)
0.5
(10/17.37)
0.7 1
141 51 90
16.3
8.5
24.8
139 Million or say 14 crore

29. Example for finding number of samples
State
Class of
Net Area
Wholly
Rainfed
Average
No. of samples
holding
Sown
Irrigated
Area
size of
Total
Ha.
No.
W. Bengal
Marginal
957600
0.49
383040
177840
560880
Small
511000
949000
1.59
204400
94900
299300
Semi-Medium
668000
233800
434200
2.73
85641
43420
129061
Medium
96000
33600
62400
4.85
6928
6240
13168
Large
149000
52150
96850
338.58
154
286
440
680163
322686