Which of the following statement/s is/are true about the Soil Health card scheme?

a) It is an initiative of the Mininstry of Agriculture.

b) It was launched by the Government of India on 19 February 2015.

c) The card will contain the status of soil with respect to 12 parameters.

1. a and b
2. b and c
3. a and c
4. a, b and c

The correct answer is a,b and c.

• Soil health card (SHC) :
  • Soil Health Card (SHC) is a Government of India's scheme promoted by the Department of Agriculture & Co-operation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
  • It is being implemented through the Department of Agriculture of all the State and Union Territory Governments.

• SHC is a printed report that a farmer will be handed over for each of his holdings.
  • It will contain the status of his soil with respect to 12 parameters -
    • Macro-nutrients - Nitrogen(N), Phosphorus(P), Potassium(K) 
    • Secondary-nutrient - Sulfur 
    • Micro-nutrients - Zinc(Zn), Ferrous(Fe), Copper(Cu), Manganese(Mn), Boron (B).
    • Physical parameters - Potential of hydrogen(pH), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC)
  • Based on this, the SHC will also indicate fertilizer recommendations and soil amendments required for the farm.
• How can a farmer use SHC?
  • ​The card will contain an advisory based on the soil nutrient status of a farmer's holding.
  • It will show recommendations on a dosage of different nutrients needed.
  • Further, it will advise the farmer on the fertilizers and their quantities he should apply, and also the soil amendments that he should undertake, so as to realize optimal yields.
• Tag line: ‘Healthy Earth. Green Farm.’

• The government is planning to cover as many as all farmers under the scheme. 
• The scheme will cover all the parts of the country.
• In the form of a Soil card, the farmers will get a report. and this report will contain all the details about the soil of their particular farm.
• A farm will get the soil card once every 3 years.