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New Delhi : Since 2015, based on demand from states, 107 mobile labs have been set up under Soil Health Management Programme. In all, a total of 11,531 labs have been set up including 491 static labs, 107 mobile labs, 8,811 mini labs, and 2,122 village level labs.
The Government has been implementing Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme since 2015 to provide soil test based fertiliser use recommendations periodically to the farmers in the country. Soil health card provides nutrient status of the soil along with prescription about balanced and integrated use of inorganic and organic fertilisers to maintain good health that results in increase in production.
SHC based fertiliser use advisories are issued to farmers from time to time. Demonstrations about balanced use of fertilisers based on soil health card recommendations and training to the farmers on proper and integrated use of fertilisers are integral part of the scheme. State/ district agriculture machinery and panchayats, village level rural development workers like Krishi Sakhis, Pasu Sakhis are involved in educating farmers on right use of fertilisers. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) also imparts training, organises front line demonstrations to educate farmers on this aspect, according to a PIB release.
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Rajya Sabha on July 23, 2021..