From February 19, a new centrally sponsored nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card’ scheme will finally be rolled out from Suratgarh in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan.
The scheme will be launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh will be present at Suratgarh on the occasion of its formal launch. His ministry has already formulated a national ‘Mission’ to provide 3 crore cards to farmers in 2015, 5.50 crore cards next year and remaining 5.50 crore in 2017.
The card, carrying crop-wise recommendations of nutrients/fertilizers required for farms of different soil types, will make it possible for farmers to improve productivity through judicious use of inputs.Such cards will be issued to all 14 crore holdings across the country in three years. The move will help the farmers in identifying “health of the soil” which will go a long way in improving productivity through judicious and selective use of fertilizers and water.
The system will, eventually, allow the farmers to download the ‘Soil Health Card’ using ‘unique number’ allotted to each soil sample. In that case, the change of ownership of the particular farm land will not create any problem in getting such cards or getting it updated. Since collecting ‘soil samples’ and uploading\updating the test results will be a mammoth exercise, the Center has written to states urging them to take help of students of agriculture universities for the task.
An official said that “All soil samples will be tested in various soil testing labs across the country. Thereafter, the experts will analyze the strength and weaknesses (micro-nutrients deficiency) of the soil and suggest measures to deal with it. The result and suggestion will be displayed in the cards”.
Src:- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Ambitious-nation-wide-Soil-Health-Card-scheme-to-be-launched-from-Rajasthan-on-February-19/articleshow/46216771.cms