Executive Summary:
This document provides information regarding the distribution and impact of Soil Health Cards (SHCs) in Maharashtra for the year 2024-25, as addressed in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1507. It includes district-wise data on soil samples collected, tested, and SHCs distributed. The document also details the impact of the scheme on crop yield and fertilizer usage and addresses challenges in implementing the scheme in remote areas.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Soil Health Card Distribution (2024-25):**
* District-wise details of soil samples collected, tested, and Soil Health Cards (SHCs) distributed to farmers in Maharashtra are provided in the annexure.
* In the Raigad Lok Sabha Constituency, 14,551 soil samples were collected, 14,510 soil samples were tested, and SHCs were distributed during 2024-25.
* A total of 2.75 Crore SHCs have been distributed to farmers in Maharashtra till date.
* **Impact of Soil Health Card Scheme:**
* The scheme has enabled farmers to use appropriate fertilizers in a balanced manner, leading to an increase in crop yields.
* A 2017 study by the National Productivity Council (NPC) indicated an 8-10% decrease in chemical fertilizer use and a 5-6% increase in crop yield due to SHC recommendations.
* **Implementation Challenges:**
* No major challenges were faced in implementing the scheme in remote and tribal areas in Maharashtra.
Impact Analysis:
* Farmers in Maharashtra:
* Impact: Benefit from the Soil Health Card scheme through balanced fertilizer use, leading to increased crop yields.
* Action Required: Utilize Soil Health Cards to make informed decisions about fertilizer application.
* Government of Maharashtra:
* Impact: Responsible for the distribution of Soil Health Cards and monitoring the impact of the scheme on agriculture.
* Action Required: Continue effective implementation of the scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Soil Health Card Scheme: A government initiative to provide farmers with soil health cards, aiming to improve fertilizer use and crop yield.
Maharashtra: A state in India where the Soil Health Card scheme is being implemented and analyzed in the context of this document.
Raigad Lok Sabha Constituency: A specific constituency in Maharashtra for which soil sample data and Soil Health Card distribution figures are provided.
SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question regarding the Soil Health Card scheme.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the question about the Soil Health Card scheme.
National Productivity Council NPC, New Delhi: An organization that conducted a study on the Soil Health Card scheme's impact on fertilizer use and crop yield.
2024-25: The fiscal year for which data on soil samples, testing, and Soil Health Card distribution in Maharashtra is reported.
New Delhi: Location of National Productivity Council (NPC)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1507
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29THJULY, 2025
DISTRIBUTION AND IMPACT OF SOIL HEALTH CARDS
1507. SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी
be pleased to state?
(a) the number of Soil Health Cards distributed to farmers in Maharashtra during
the year 2024–25, State-wise and district-wise in the State of Maharashtra including
Raigad Lok Sabha Constituency;
(b) the number of soil samples collected and tested in Maharashtra during the
2024-25,district-wise especially for Raigad PC;
(c) the impact of the Soil Health Card Scheme on crop yield and fertilizer usage
among farmers in Maharashtra; and
(d) whether the Government has faced any challenges in implementing the
scheme in remote and tribal areas of the State and if so, the details of action taken to
address these challenges?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): The district wise details of soil samples collected, tested and Soil Health
Cards (SHCs) distributed to farmers in Maharashtra during the year 2024–25 are at
Annexure. In Raigad Lok Sabha Constituency, 14551 soil samples were collected,
14510 soil samples were tested & SHCs were distributed during 2024-25.
(c): Till date, a total of 2.75 Crore SHCs have been distributed to farmers in
Maharashtra. Government of Maharashtra has informed that the scheme has enabled
farmers to use appropriate fertilizers in a balanced manner. This has led to an increase in
crop yields. National Productivity Council (NPC), New Delhi carried out a study 'Soil TestingInfrastructure for Faster Delivery of Soil Health Card in India' in 2017 in 76 districts of 19
States (including Maharashtra) covering 170 soil testing labs and 1700 farmers. Study
reveals that as a result of application of fertilizer and micro-nutrients as per SHC
recommendations, there has been a decrease of use of chemical fertilizer in the range of 8-
10%. Overall 5-6% increase in the yield of crops was reported due to application of fertilizer
and micro nutrients as per recommendations in SHC.
(d): No major challenges are faced in implementation of the scheme in remote and tribal
areas in Maharashtra.Annexure
District wise details of soil samples collected, tested and Soil Health Cards (SHCs)
distributed to farmers in Maharashtra during the year 2024–25
Sl. No. District Number of Soil Number of Soil Samples Tested
Samples Collected and Soil Health Cards issued to
Farmers
1 Ahilyanagar 19500 19500
2 Akola 13501 12339
3 Amravati 19417 11646
4 Beed 17000 14174
5 Bhandara 13268 13248
6 Buldhana 18500 18500
7 Chandrapur 21497 21477
8 Chhatrapati 15118 15089
Sambhajinagar
9 Dharashiv 14999 14999
10 Dhule 11000 12663
11 Gadchiroli 18000 16036
12 Gondia 11414 10876
13 Hingoli 11498 11430
14 Jalgaon 21433 19854
15 Jalna 15000 15000
16 Kolhapur 15624 12695
17 Latur 16000 16001
18 Nagpur 17974 15109
19 Nanded 21961 21524
20 Nandurbar 12500 12500
21 Nashik 20770 20762
22 Palghar 7787 5906
23 Parbhani 15376 14890
24 Pune 18500 18500
25 Raigad 16500 16470
26 Ratnagiri 8956 8731
27 Sangli 15462 15456
28 Satara 16454 15618
29 Sindhudurg 8658 7918
30 Solapur 17000 16967
31 Thane 10122 9564
32 Wardha 11415 11402
33 Washim 13000 13002
34 Yavatmal 12837 7861
Total 518041 487707
Source: Soil Health card Portal
*****