Parliament Question: Status of soil health indicators

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2407 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13/03/2026 STATUS OF SOIL HEALTH INDICATORS 2407. SHRI SATNAM SINGH SANDHU: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state? (a) the current status of soil health indicators across major agricultural States; (b) the impact of soil degradation on crop productivity and food security; and (c) the steps taken under Soil Health Card (SHC) and related programmes to promote sustainable farming and restore soil fertility? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY) (a) to (c): Soil and Land Use Survey of India under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has generated soil data base at different scales of 1:50,000 and 1:10,000 which reveals that soil of India are sufficient in Potassium with variability in Nitrogen and Phosphorous. With reference to the micronutrients, Zinc shows deficiency majorly in states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Odisha. Iron and Boron also shows variability across the soils in India. The Government is aware of concerns on issues related to soil health. To address this, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recommends soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management. ICAR has suggested combined use of both inorganic and organic sources (manure, biofertilizers etc.) of plant nutrients and location specific soil and water conservation measures for preventing deterioration of soil health and fertility. The Government is also implementing Soil Health and Fertility Scheme to assist State Governments to issue Soil Health Cards (SHCs) to farmers across the country. SHCs assist in promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and micro nutrients along with organic manures & bio-fertilizers, for improving soil health and fertility. A total of 25.89 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated under the Scheme till date since 2014-15. Under Soil Health & Fertility Scheme, 7.17 lakh demonstrations programs have been organized on the balanced use of fertilizers to improve soil quality. Advisories are also issued to farmers through Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). In addition, 70,002 Krishi Sakhis are trained to issue soil health card advisories. School Soil Health Programme is implemented in schools, where students undertake soil sample collection, testing and generate SHCs to give advisory to farmers. The objective of the scheme is to inculcate importance of soil in the young mind of students. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is being implemented to promote livestock integrated farming, involving practices such as use of biomass mulching, multi-cropping system, use of on-farm made natural farming bio-inputs for improving soil organic content, soil structure, nutrition, enhancing soil water holding capacity. *****