Group-I Soil Health

Management

Major Driving forces

for SHM

Burning of crop residue

s

Imbalance use of

chemical fertilizers

Inadequate application of FYM and

green manuring

Soil degradation

Soil test based

judicious use of nutrients including

waterNon-adoption

of crop rotation as

per land capability

Adverse impacts of poor

SHM

Loss of soil

fertility and

productivity

Economic loss

to farmers thereby

to nation

Mortality of

active beneficial Soil Bacteri

a

Soil hardeni

ng & erosion

Threat to food security

ISSUES

1.

• To provide landholdingwise SHC in irrigated and rainfed areas

2.

• To establish new STL or MSTL wherever required and central funding running such static and mobile labs preferably in PPP mode

3.

• To introduce a CSS scheme to reclamation of alkali, saline and acid soils as area these soils are increasing every year across the country.

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4.• To increase the area under organic farming

5

• To improve the infrastructure for production of quality organic inputs.

6.

• To promote awareness and capacity building of the farmers for Soil Health Management through INM approach.

7

• The charges for soil testing in some states are not reasonable (Rs. 1 to 10/sample) resulting to non-sustainability of STL

PROBLEMS FACED BY STATES

1. Collection of soil samples in a scientific process need trained & skilled labours which is not available at village level.

2. NGO/Private Agencies are reluctant to establish STL under PPP mode as it is not profit oriented due to small & marginal farmer centric State.

3. To establish STL requires deployment of large no. Manpower which is a problem on the part of State Govt.

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4. There is a problem in getting good quality organic inputs at farmer level.

5. Farmers in some areas under highly intensive cropping systems particularly potato growing areas are

habituated to apply excessive chemical fertilizer , resulting in deterioration of Soil Health.

6. Farmers are reluctant to adopt Organic farming due to marketing problem of their produce.

MAJOR CONSTRAINTS: Lack of awareness among the farmers

about benefits of Soil Test based nutrients application and crop rotation

Imbalance and non-judicious application of fertilizers

Non-filling of sanctioned technical posts leading to non-functioning of STLs

Non-availability of alternatives to chemical fertilizers

Non-availability of relatively low cost FYMNon-availability of good quality green

manure seeds in adequate quantity

Interventions for Soil Health Management• Incorporation of crop residue and promotion of

green manuring• Promotion of bio enriched compost/vermi

compost• Establishment Soil Testing facilities at village

level and use of fertilizers according to soil test• Judicious use of pesticides to control

Technological

interventions

• Promotion of STLs in PPP model with infrastructure support from state

• Soil health manager at village level with Mini soil test kit from state/ central assistance

Diversification of soil

testing system

• Training and Demonstration of farmers for creating awareness

• Awareness to through mass/ print media• Ensuring Soil Health card to each farmer for

each field of about 1 ha• Self certification about adoption of organic

farming

Capacity building

and awareness generation

SUGGESTIONS

10

1

• Provision in Central Sector Scheme for adequate subsidy to the Laboratories under PPP Mode for routine and micronutrient analysis

2

• Provision in central sector scheme to provide a soil sampling fee @ Rs.20/- per sample and allow collection of sample through outsourcing

3

• The State run STL at district headquarters shall act as Nodal Agency in monitoring the STL run by NGO/Private Agencies operating in the district for which state may develop suitable mechanism

4

• Creation of additional STL, MSTL, Fertiliser Quality Control Lab, and Biofertiliser Quality Control Lab.

5

• Creation of Digital District Map of soil fertility.

6

• Capacity building of the of the farmers, STL staffs/Extension functionaries regarding SHM

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7

• To provide SHM support to the farmers of remote areas through SOIL TESTING KIT

8

• Strengthening of existing fertilizer quality control laboratory and creation of new FQCL so that farmers of the States get quality fertiliser both chemical and organic.

9

• To set up new Agro Waste Compost Production Units as step to produce more organic input in the states at blocks level which will help to maintain soil fertility.

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10

• To increase production of Biofertiliser in PPP mode

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• To launch a comprehensive CS scheme for reclamation of alkaline, saline and acidic soils

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• To create large scale awareness amongst farmers about benefits of organic farming

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• To issue online soil health cards

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• To create market-linkages for organic produce for ensuring higher economic returns to the farmers

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THANK YOU…