Soil Health Card Scheme: Cultivating Sustainability In Indian Agriculture – IMPRI Impact And Policy Research Institute

Policy Update
Atharva Salunke

Background 

The Soil Health Card Scheme was inaugurated by Hon’able Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi Ji on February 19, 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan, with the motto “Swasth Dharaa, Khet Haraa” (Healthy Earth, Healthy Farm). Launched in the International Year of Soils, the scheme was designed to help State Governments provide soil health cards to all the farmers of India. The SHC gives a detailed report of the nutrient content of a farmer’s soil, including suggestions on how much fertiliser and soil amendment is required to enhance fertility and productivity. It is a diagnostic tool that allows farmers to detect nutrient deficiencies, choose the right crops, and implement scientific approaches in managing nutrients.

The programme emphasizes sustainable agriculture, improved yields, and reduced costs of inputs. It is an indication of a strategic transition towards farming that is resource-conserving, empowering the farmers with knowledge to nurture their soil and thus make their agricultural landscape greener and more productive.

Objectives of Soil Health Card Scheme:

1. Capacity building of district and state level staff for promotion of nutrient management practices
2. Strengthen the functioning of soil testing laboratories and associated infrastructure
3. To promote soil test based nutrient management across the country
4. To diagnose soil fertility related constraints with standardized procedures and analyse and design fertilizer recommendations
5. To issue soil health cards to all farmers across the country

Functioning

Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme functions with a systematized, multi-step process to provide correct soil testing and prompt transfer of advice to the farmers. Implementation begins with the activation of the District Annual Action Plan with sample collection targets, coverage to be done, laboratory capacity, and training schemes for field staff. Soil samples are collected by Agriculture Extension Officers, trained persons, or agricultural students as per required norms, on a 2.5 hectare grid for small irrigated holdings and a 10 hectare grid for rainfed areas, along with farmer information, GPS coordinates, and land characteristics.

These samples are tested at Village-Level Mini Soil Testing Labs or Soil Testing Laboratories for twelve parameters i.e., macronutrients (N, P, K, S), micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo), pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), and Organic Carbon (OC). Test results are uploaded on the central SHC online portal, which provides crop-specific fertilizer and soil management advice. The printed SHCs are then dispatched to farmers within about 30 days of sample collection. Apart from dissemination, training sessions and awareness campaigns are done for guiding farmers on how to interpret results and adopt suggested practices.

Performance

Since its launch, the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme has made significant strides in improving soil health management and promoting sustainable agriculture. A total of 25,25,54,397 Soil Health Cards have been generated from 8,03,24,603 samples collected from 2015 to 2025. The scheme has also strengthened the soil testing infrastructure, with 11,531 new laboratories established (491 static, 107 mobile, 8,811 mini-labs, and 2,122 village-level labs) and 829 existing labs upgraded.

Capacity building has been a major focus, with approximately 6.04 lakh demonstrations, 36,928 farmers’ training programmes, and 7,425 farmers’ melas conducted since 2015. Grassroots workers, including Krishi Sakhis and Pashu Sakhis, have been actively involved in educating farmers on the balanced use of fertilizers.

Complementing these efforts, 6,954 villages have been identified for targeted implementation, collecting 21 lakh samples against a target of 26.83 lakh, with 13.59 lakh SHCs distributed. The scheme has also supported youth employment by enabling farmers and rural youth to set up soil testing laboratories with up to 75% financial support. Furthermore, the promotion of 21 fertilizers under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme, along with 35 customized and 25 fortified fertilizers, has contributed to balanced and efficient fertilizer use nationwide.

Table 1: Samples Collected and Soil Health Cards from 2015 to 2025

Impact

In 2017, the National Productivity Council (NPC) completed and submitted a detailed study called “Soil Testing Infrastructure for Faster Delivery of Soil Health Card in India”. The survey, carried out across 76 districts in 19 states, covered 170 soil testing laboratories and 1,700 farmers. The findings indicated a wide acceptance of Soil Health Cards among farmers.

The study revealed that over 90% of the farmers surveyed had never tested their soil before the scheme’s introduction, and 92% reported not using balanced fertilizers and micronutrients due to a lack of information on their soil’s nutrient status. By following SHC-based recommendations, farmers reduced their chemical fertilizer use by 8-10% and achieved an overall yield increase of 5-6%, demonstrating the scheme’s effectiveness in promoting balanced nutrient management and improving productivity.

The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, conducted a parallel study in November 2017, which confirmed similar trends. Paddy farmers reduced urea use by 9% and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)/Single Super Phosphate (SSP) by 7%, while increasing potassium application by 20%, a strong indicator of movement towards balanced nutrient use.

Emerging Issues

While the Soil Health Card Scheme has improved nutrient management, several challenges persist. Studies show that over 70 percent of farmers lack awareness about micronutrient use, and delays of up to six to eight months are reported between soil sampling and SHC issuance. Limited infrastructure such as a shortage of mobile soil testing vans and only 11,531 functional labs against higher demand slows implementation. High costs and irregular supply of micronutrients discourage adoption, with 45 percent of farmers citing non-availability. Socio-personal barriers including low literacy and reluctance among older farmers further limit the scheme’s impact.

Way Forward

It is recommended that the number of mobile soil testing vans and village-level laboratories be increased to ensure faster, more accessible, and timely soil testing services for farmers across all regions.

It is recommended that regular training programmes, demonstrations, and awareness campaigns be conducted to educate farmers on the correct interpretation and application of Soil Health Card

It is recommended that mechanisms be established to ensure the timely availability and affordability of micronutrients and fertilizers, possibly through public–private partnerships, to support balanced nutrient use and improve crop productivity.

References

Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. (2017). Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme: Manual for district-level functionaries. https://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/Soil%20Health%20Card_0.pdf

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Dashboard. https://www.soilhealth.dac.gov.in/scheme-progress

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Legacy dashboard. https://www.soilhealth.dac.gov.in/dashboard

National Productivity Council. (2017, February). Soil testing infrastructure for faster delivery of Soil Health Card in India [Report]. Government of India. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/Study%20on%20Impact%20of%20Soil%20Health%20Card%20Scheme.pdf

Press Information Bureau. (2020, February 19). Soil Health Card Scheme helped India achieve surplus capacity in foodgrain production: Shri Narendra Singh Tomar – Completion of five years of Soil Health Card Scheme observed. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1603758

Press Information Bureau. (2021, March 17). Improving soil health. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1705514

Press Information Bureau. (2021, November 30). Soil Health Card Scheme. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1776580

Press Information Bureau. (2022, January 17). Soil health card. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/FactsheetDetails.aspx?Id=148602#_ftn15

Press Information Bureau. (2023, August 11). New Soil Health Card Scheme. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1947891

Press Information Bureau. (2025, February 18). Celebrating a decade of soil health cards: Swasth Dharaa, Khet Haraa. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2104403

Press Information Bureau. (2025, March 21). Impact of Soil Health Card Scheme on soil fertility and agricultural productivity. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/FactsheetDetails.aspx?Id=148602

Press Information Bureau. (2025, March 21). Impact of Soil Health Card Scheme on soil fertility and agricultural productivity. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2113718

Sheetal, M., Kaur, M., & Sharma, D. (2020). Constraints faced by the farmers in adoption of Soil Health Card scheme. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 9(9), 100–108. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.909.012

About the Contributor

Atharva Salunke is a Policy Research Associate at NITI TANTRA and a Research Intern at IMPRI. He has recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Sir Parashurambhau College, Pune.

Acknowledgement: The author sincerely thanks the IMPRI team for their valuable support.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organization.

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