Earth Care

 Introduction:

 Soil  Health  Management (SHM)  is  one  of  the  most  important interventions under  National  Mission  for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). SHM  aims  at promoting location  as well  as crop  specific  sustainable soil  health  management, creating  and linking  soil fertility  maps with macro-micro nutrient  management, judicious application of fertilizers and organic  farming  practices. Under  SHM,  establishment of soil testing labs  in  one  of  the  components which  are  mainly  located  at  district  / block  level. Therefore, village  level  soil testing  projects  will be established with  the objective of employment generation for rural  youth  and  to improve  timelines in analysis  of soil samples.

 Objectives: 

• To improve soil quality and profitability of farmers.

• Employment generation for rural youth.

• To improve timeliness in analysis of soil samples.

• Introduction of the Single Window approach from collection to issue of SHC so as to minimize delays and maximize convenience to farmers.

• Online delivery of soil health cards to the farmers using Soil Health Card Portal.

• Provide soil testing facilities to farmers at their door step.

 Strategy:

 To achieve the above objectives, the following strategies will be adopted:

•  Identification of beneficiary and Establishment of Soil Testing Projects in each village.

• The soil analysis process to be completed within one month of receipt of soil samples in the STL i.e starting from March of the year to June month and October & November of the year. The schedule is as under;

•  Sampling and registration on portal: 1-10 days.

• B. Analysis of soil samples: 11-20 days

• Uploading of recommendations on the portal: 21-25 days

• Printing and distribution of SHC: 26-30 days.

• Promote   soil   sampling,   testing   and   fertilizer   recommendation   among stakeholders by way of training in District level laboratories.

• Provide financial assistance to Village entrepreneur (18 – 40 age group), Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Joint Liability Groups, Farmer Cooperative Societies,  Farmer Producer  Organizations (FPOs),  Input  Retail outlets,  Input Retailers and School/colleges located in the district to Establish Soil Testing Lab.

• Soil Sample collection at village level in the irrigated areas will be drawn in a grid of 2.5 ha. In rained areas, sampling will be done in a 10ha. Grid.

• Soil samples should be processed following standard procedures and analyzed for various parameters namely pH, electrical conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon, available N, P, K, S and micro nutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn & B). In addition, science colleges / schools having laboratories may be assigned the task of soil testing. The students can do the work of soil testing under guidance of teachers / instructors.

• Provide  financial  assistance  for  sample  collection,  testing  and  printing  & distribution of soil Health Cards.

Scheme Structure:

The  National  Level  Advisory  Committee,  Executive  Committee  and  State  Level Committee will remains same as under NMSA. District Level. The District Level Executive Committee (DLEC) will comprise of the following:

•  DLEC will be responsible for carrying forward the objectives of the scheme for project formulation, implementation and monitoring. The office of DD (A)/JD (A) shall be the district nodal agency with following functions:

• Identify beneficiaries (Village entrepreneur (18 – 40 age group), Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Joint Liability Groups, Farmer Cooperative Societies, Farmer Producer  Organizations  (FPOs),  Input  Retail  outlets,  Input  Retailers  and School/colleges located in the district) to avail the benefits of scheme in transparent and time bound manner.

• Identify the premises for establishment of Soil Health Labs. The premises of School /College/ Panchayat buildings / input Retail outlets etc. may be used for such purpose.

• Utilize online application software for the entire process of identification and selection of beneficiary, processing of applications and disbursement of financial assistance to the beneficiary after ensuring the proof of procurement of equipment/inputs as per provisions and norms.

• The beneficiary must be well trained from the Government approved testing laboratories/KVKs/SAUs etc for analysis of soil sample & having knowledge of computer.

• Prepare district AAP with physical and financial targets under this scheme.

• Receive funds from State Nodal Department for implementing the programmes.

• It would be ensured by the State Government that no eligible beneficiary suffers for want of Aadhaar and it would be with the State Govt. responsibility to ensure that Aadhar enrolment of  such  beneficiaries is carried  out on  priority at the permanent Enrollment centres set up for the purpose. However, the benefits will not be denied for not having the Aadhar number by the eligible beneficiary.

• Monitor & display details of approved programme, all activities undertaken and name of beneficiaries, expenditure incurred etc. at the soil health portal, Panchayat Bhavan/prominent public place in the cluster/village level and get it placed before the concerned Gram Sabha annually from the point of social audit.

• ICAR institutes /SAUs and KVKs functioning in the district will provide technical support in formulation of the district action plan, its implementation and monitoring. The technical staff will be sourced from these organizations for imparting training to the beneficiary.

• Government as a whole should draw a road map with timelines for expeditious creation of a single window at the local level for provision of all developmental and regulatory services to citizens.

• To monitor the performance of established labs and appraise potential strengths/weaknesses. One nodal officer at each District will be assigned this task.

• To create awareness about the scheme and market it among potential users through road show, print advertisement, electronic media etc.

• Arrangement of training to the beneficiary.