The Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme is a government initiative launched in 2015 to improve the soil health of agricultural land in India. The scheme aims to provide farmers with a detailed analysis of the nutrient content of their soil, along with recommendations for how to improve soil health and productivity.
The SHC scheme is implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India. The scheme is being implemented in all states and union territories of India.
Under the SHC scheme, a soil sample is collected from each farmer’s field and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The laboratory tests the soil sample for 12 different parameters, including:
- Nitrogen (N)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Potassium (K)
- Sulfur (S)
- Zinc (Zn)
- Iron (Fe)
- Copper (Cu)
- Manganese (Mn)
- Boron (Bo)
- pH
- Electrical Conductivity (EC)
- Organic Carbon (OC)
Based on the soil analysis results, the laboratory will issue a Soil Health Card to the farmer. The Soil Health Card will contain the following information:
- The nutrient status of the soil
- Recommendations for improving soil health
- The type and quantity of fertilizers and other amendments that the farmer should apply to the soil
The SHC scheme is a valuable tool for farmers to improve the soil health of their land and increase crop productivity. The scheme has been well-received by farmers and has been credited with helping to improve the soil health of millions of hectares of land in India.
Here are some of the benefits of the Soil Health Card Scheme:
- It helps farmers to identify the nutrient deficiencies in their soil.
- It provides farmers with recommendations for how to improve soil health.
- It helps farmers to save money on fertilizers.
- It helps farmers to increase crop productivity.
- It helps to protect the environment.
The Soil Health Card Scheme is a major step forward in the government’s efforts to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability in India.