The Government of India has intensified efforts to address the decline in organic carbon in soil, with a total of 24.84 crore Soil Health Cards (SHCs) issued to farmers so far. These SHCs provide crucial data on soil properties such as pH levels, electrical conductivity, and nutrient content, including Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, micro-nutrients, and Organic Carbon.

Farmers receive advisories on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), which encourages the judicious use of chemical fertilisers alongside organic manures and bio-fertilisers to enhance soil organic carbon and overall soil health. Awareness campaigns include: 7 lakh demonstrations 93,781 farmer training programmes 7,425 farmer fairs (melas) Additionally, 70,002 Krishi Sakhis have been trained to assist farmers in interpreting SHC recommendations and implementing sustainable practices.

To further enhance soil quality, the government is promoting organic farming through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). This scheme offers end-to-end support covering: Production, processing, certification, and marketing Formation of organic farming clusters, prioritising small and marginal farmers Financial assistance for organic inputs to ensure sustainability in agriculture

Government’s Commitment This information was shared by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, in a written response in the Rajya Sabha. The initiatives reaffirm the government’s commitment to improving soil health and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.