Abstract
Soil health card scheme (SHCS) is implemented in India in 2015 with objectives to study soil quality, to enhance crop production and recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF). An evaluation of the scheme was carried out in Chandrapur district of Central India. For carrying out this study, 50 farmers were identified (39 male and 11 female) with and inclusion criteria of those farmers using soil health card. A special design quantitative-based questionnaire tool was developed for this study. To evaluate the scheme emphasis was laid upon knowledge, information, implementation, satisfaction rate, farmer’s attitude, constraint and suggestions given by the farmers. From the results, it can be seen that farmers knowledge for soil sample sending to the laboratory is minimum (38%) and elements present is maximum (88%). Macronutrients addition to the soil as stated in SHC is carried out by 42% farmers; whereas, (38%) for micronutrients. To understand the recommended dose of fertilizer farmers need expert advice (76%). Receipt of SHC before sowing is reported by (44%) farmers. About 90% farmers feel that SHCS is useful to them and 82% are recommending it to other farmers. The satisfaction level is in the order of income increased > soil nutrient balance > yield increase > production increase. Farmer’s attitude towards the scheme being a blessing is 68%; whereas, 52% with saving input cost. Constraint reported by farmers is micronutrients unavailability (66%) followed by the problem in sending a soil sample to the laboratory (38%). Maximum (84%) farmer’s suggestion is to have the crop-wise recommended dose of fertilizer. This scheme being recently introduced in India is yet to reach to all farmers and further reviews need to be carried out periodically for its effective implementation by removing bottlenecks in it.
Key Words: Agriculture, Chandrapur, Soil health, Soil health card scheme
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