Chemical Fertilisers Consumption Dropped by 8 to 10% During 2016-17

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministers Radha Mohan Singh informed that government’s Soil Health Card scheme is reducing the cost of production, along with increasing identification and utility of nutrients.

During 2014-17, Rs 253.82 crore has been released for the scheme. Chemical fertilisers consumption dropped by 8 to 10%, during the year 2016-17 as compared to 2015-16 and overall production increased by 10% to 12%, he said.

The Agriculture Minister said that to reduce the cost of production, increase the productivity and to distribute SHC to the farmers across the nation, the government has launched this ambitious scheme.

SHC recommends ways to improve the soil quality, appropriate dosage of nutrients for improving soil health and its fertility and analyse the nutrient level. Every two years the soil health will be reviewed to examine nutrients deficiencies so that corrective measures can be taken accordingly.

9 crore soil health cards have bee distributed to farmers so far, he added.