**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding the Soil Health Card (SHC) Programme in Tamil Nadu as of August 5, 2025.
**Key Findings:**
* **SHC Distribution:** As of June 30, 2025, 152.51 lakh Soil Health Cards have been issued to farmers in Tamil Nadu since the program's inception in 2015 under the Soil Health Fertility Scheme.
* **Timely Distribution:** The Tamil Nadu state government ensures timely delivery of SHCs to all farmers, including small and marginal farmers, as per the citizen charter.
* **Communication of Recommendations:** Advisories based on SHCs are disseminated through Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) officials, Krishi Sakhis, and Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory (MSTL) van campaigns. ATMA officials conduct mandatory training on SHC advisories in every village. Village Level Agricultural Development Groups issue SHC advisories to farmers before the Kharif and Rabi seasons in each block.
* **Regional Soil Health Challenges:** No major region-specific soil health challenges have been identified in the implementation of the scheme. However, in some regions, pockets of problematic soils have been identified and advisories were given for reclamation of problem soils.
* **Upgrading Soil Testing Infrastructure:** To enhance the accuracy of soil testing, the Government of Tamil Nadu pursued National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) Recognition. 36 Static labs have received NABL Recognition certificate. The government has facilitated the upgrade of existing soil testing infrastructure with Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometer (ICP) under the scheme.
* **Technology Integration:** A Soil Lab registry has been created online on the SHC Portal for digital integration. Test results are uploaded on the SHC Portal to digitally generate Soil Health Cards.
Key Entities Referenced
Soil Health Card Programme: A government initiative to provide farmers with soil health cards containing information and recommendations related to soil health.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India where the Soil Health Card Programme is being implemented and analyzed in the context of this document.
SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding Soil Health Cards.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who answered the question regarding Soil Health Cards in Lok Sabha.
Agricultural Technology Management Agency ATMA: An agency involved in distributing advisories to farmers regarding Soil Health Cards and conducting training programs.
Krishi Sakhis: An entity involved in distributing advisories to farmers regarding Soil Health Cards.
Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory MSTL: Mobile units used for soil sample testing and providing soil health card advisories to farmers.
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories NABL: An accreditation body for testing and calibration laboratories, whose recognition is being sought for soil testing labs in Tamil Nadu.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2657
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05th AUGUST, 2025
SOIL HEALTH CARDS
2657. SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S:
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 total number of Soil Health Cards (SHCs) issued to farmers in Tamil Nadu under the Soil
Health Card Programme till date;
(b) the details of measures taken to ensure timely soil testing and distribution of SHCs,especially to
small and marginal farmers;
(c) the steps taken to ensure that the recommendations provided in the Soil Health Cards are
effectively communicated and adopted by farmers in Tamil Nadu;
(d) whether any region-specific soil health challenges have been identified in Tamil Nadu, and the
manner in which the programme addresses them; and
(e) the steps being taken to upgrade soil testing laboratories and use technology to improve the
accuracy and coverage of the Soil Health Card Programme ?
ANSWER
THE 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): Since, inception of the scheme in 2015, 152.51 lakh Soil Health Cards (SHCs) have been issued
to farmers in Tamil Nadu under the Soil Health & Fertility Scheme (as on 30.06.2025).
(b) to (d): State Government has informed that SHCs are distributed to farmers including small and
marginal farmers as per citizen charter to ensure timely delivery. The advisories are issued to farmers
through Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) officials, Krishi Sakhis, & Mobile Soil
Testing Laboratory (MSTL) Van Campaigns. In every village, the ATMA officials conduct training under
various scheme & advisories about SHC is kept mandatory. The MSTL van visits villages to collect soil
samples undertake sample testing, provide soil health card & issue advisories to farmers instantly.
Apart from this, in every block, Village Level Agricultural Development Group issues SHC advisories
to farmers in Pre Kharif & Pre Rabi season. No major region-specific soil health challenges are faced
in implementation of the scheme. However, in some region, pockets of problematic soils had been
identified & advisories were given for reclamation of problem soils.
(e): To ensure accuracy in soil testing, the Government of Tamil Nadu has undergone for National
Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) Recognition process. As a result,
36 Static labs have received NABL Recognition certificate. Government has allowed upgradation of
the existing soil testing infrastructure with Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS)/ Inductively
Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometer (ICP) under the scheme. Soil Lab registry has been created online
on SHC Portal as digital integration. Test results are uploaded on SHC Portal to generate Soil Health
card digitally.
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