Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on February 19, 2020, said the Soil Health Card Scheme has helped India achieve surplus capacity in foodgrains production. Inaugurating the National Workshop on Soil Health Card (SHC) Day here, Tomar said the soil health is vital to boosting agricultural production.
Tomar said the vagaries of weather pose a new challenge before the country. The spurt in onion prices last year arose due to unseasonal rains. The agricultural scientists are constantly engaged in finding solutions, he said.
Tomar said, “Our schemes should not remain confined to files, farmers should gain out of it. I am of the firm belief our farmers will overcome this challenge heeding to the advice of agricultural scientists and soil analysis. More than 11 crore SHCs have been issued in two phases since the scheme was launched five years ago. The Government is making efforts to set up Soil Testing Labs (STLs) on the patterns of Model Village. Still much more needs to be done.”
He informed that under this scheme Soil Health Cards are provided to all farmers at an interval of 2 years. These cards contain status of soil health and also soil test based nutrients recommendations for important crops. He appealed to the farmers to adopt the recommendations of Soil Health Cards for efficient use of fertilisers and improving farm income, according to a PIB release.
Tomar said the Government will soon launch a Tilahan Mission to make the country self-reliant in oil seed production. In recent years, following shortage of pulses, PM Narendra Modi has called for focus on pulses production and today India has attained self-sufficiency in pulses as well, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Sanjay Agarwal, said the SHC is today among the largest Government schemes. SHC will help in doubling farmers income, he said.
The Soil Health Card Day commemorates the day Soil Health Card Scheme was launched by PM Narendra Modi on February 19, 2015, at Suratgarh, Rajasthan.