New Delhi, July 24: The central government announced on Friday that more than 258.9 million Soil Health Cards have been issued under the Soil Health Card Scheme. Additionally, the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) has expanded its reach to 18,786 clusters, covering a total area of 880,000 hectares. The government provided details on national efforts aimed at promoting scientific soil management and sustainable agriculture.
According to the government statement, approximately 717,000 demonstrations have been conducted in collaboration with Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMA) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) to promote balanced fertilizer use under the Soil Health Card Scheme. Furthermore, awareness programs like the Save the Farm campaign are encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices.
The government reported that 70,002 agricultural workers have been trained to provide soil health advice and information to farmers at the village level. Under the School Soil Health Program, 4,430 schools and 129,167 students have been registered for the year 2025-26.
The statement highlighted that the use of modern technologies such as digital platforms, geospatial mapping, and artificial intelligence (AI) has made soil assessment and advisory services more effective. This is aiding in increasing agricultural productivity, combating climate change, and enhancing long-term agricultural sustainability.
According to the government, over 46% of the country’s workforce is employed in agriculture and related sectors. Therefore, soil health directly impacts farmers’ income, food security, and the nation’s economic stability. Keeping this in mind, India has emphasized sustainable soil and land management, climate-resilient agriculture, natural farming, soil mapping, and digital agriculture.
The statement also noted that initiatives like the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) are promoting better resource utilization and climate-friendly agricultural practices. The Soil Health Card Scheme provides farmers with advice on the appropriate use of nutrients based on soil testing.
The government further mentioned that initiatives such as the National Mission for a Green India, the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, and the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme are helping to increase organic carbon in the soil and strengthen long-term carbon storage.
Under India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) commitments, the Green India Mission (GIM) aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent has been created in the country between 2005 and 2021, showcasing India’s significant progress in this area.
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