Parliament Question: Soil Health and Fertility Schemes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1581 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9th DECEMBER, 2025 SOIL HEALTH AND FERTILITY SCHEME

1581. SHRI GOVIND MAKTHAPPA KARJOL Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state?

(a) the details of number of the soil test labs established in State of Karnataka, district- wise;

(b) the details of the number of soil sample tested in the State of Karnataka during last five years and especially in Chitradurga Lok Sabha Constituency and output result obtained;

(c) the details of the latest technology adopted for soil sample testing and for soil fertility;

(d) the details of the funds spent on Soil Health and Fertility schemes in State of Karnataka during last 5 years; and

(e) the details of the steps taken by the Ministry to improve the soil health and fertility in the State of Karnataka? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a): 395 Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) have been established in Karnataka. The district wise details of the STLs are at Annexure.

(b): During last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25), 11,15,363 soil samples were tested and Soil Health Cards (SHCs) generated in Karnataka. Out of these, 52, 540 soil samples were tested and SHCs generated in Chitradurga Lok Sabha Constituency.

(c): As per information furnished by the state government, the STLs have been strengthened with advanced infrastructure and equipments to improve the performance and enhance capacity of the soil testing. Advanced equipments like Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy, Nitrogen analysers and Soil Testing kits have been provided. The Government has revamped the Soil Health Card portal integrated with a Geographic Information System (GIS) system for capturing soil sample collection and nutrient status on real time in Karnataka. Soil sample collection is carried out using State Mobile application “ Bhoosaara’ and test results are entered in state web application which is integrated with Soil Health Card Portal of Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

Mobile application has auto selection of the latitude and longitude of the location, and test results of samples entered directly on the portal to ensure accuracy.(d): Rs.31.76 crore (central share) and Rs.21.17 crore (state share) have been spent on Soil Health and Fertility schemes in State of Karnataka during last five years from 2020- 21 to 2024-25 .

(e): Under the Organic Carbon Mission scheme, distribution of green manure seeds at 75% subsidy is provided to all the categories of farmers. Demonstrations in farmers’ fields are conducted to create awareness on the importance of enriching organic carbon in soil. Under Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) programme, green manure seeds, biofertilizers and organic fertilizers are distributed to farmers at 50% subsidized rate. To promote cultivation of less fertilizer requiring millet crops, under “Raithasiri” scheme an incentive of Rs. 10000/ha (Maximum 2 ha) is provided to millet growing farmers based on crop survey through Direct Benefit Transfer. The Government is promoting the use of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) as an alternative to chemical fertilizers to improve soil health. School soil health programme is implemented in 94 schools in the state to involve students in soil testing and sensitize them about the importance of soil health.Annexure District-wise details of the Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) established in Karnataka S.N. District Agriculture Co- Village Horticulture Sericulture SAUs/ Total department lab operatives level KVKs /pvt KVK static mobile mini 1 Bagalkote 1 - - 7 - - 3 11 2 Ballari 1 - 1 - 3 - - 2 7 3 Bengaluru 1 - 1 - 1 1 1 3 8 4 Bengaluru - - - - 2 - - 1 3 5 Belagavi 1 1 2 37 1 - 0 42 6 Bidar 1 - - - 3 1 - 2 7 7 Chamarajanag 1 - - - 5 - - 1 7 8 Chikkamagalur 1 - - - 18 - - 3 22 9 Chikkaballapur 1 - - - 5 - - 0 6 10 Chitradurga 1 - - - 23 - - 3 27 11 Dakshinakanna 1 - - - 4 - - 0 5 12 Davanagere 1 - - - 8 1 - 1 11 13 Dharwad 1 - - - 3 - - 4 8 14 Gadag 1 - - - 4 - - 1 6 15 Hassan 1 - - - 5 - - 2 8 16 Haveri 1 - 1 - 19 - - 2 23 17 Kalburgi 1 - 1 - 18 - - 3 23 18 Kodagu 1 - - - 3 - - 1 5 19 Kolara 1 - - - 9 - - 2 12 20 Koppal 1 - - - 3 1 - 3 8 21 Mandya 1 - 1 - 6 - - 2 10 22 Mysuru 1 - - - 3 1 - 0 5 23 Raichur 1 - - - 3 - - 4 8 24 Ramanagara 1 - - - 22 - - 1 24 25 Shivamogga 1 - - - 21 1 - 3 26 26 Tumakur 1 - 1 - 5 - - 1 8 27 Udupi 1 - - - 13 - - 2 16 28 Uttarakannada 1 - - - 5 - - 2 8 29 Vijayapura 1 - - 1 17 - - 3 22 30 Vijayanagara 1 - - - - - - 1 31 Yadagiri 1 - - - 16 - - 1 18 Total 30 1 6 3 291 7 1 56 395 *********