Enhancing Agriculture through Organic Farming and Soil Health Cards for Improved Organic Carbon

The presence of organic carbon in agricultural soil is regularly assessed through Soil Health Cards (SHCs). As per scheme guidelines, states are required to prepare SHCs every three years to address soil nutrient deficiencies. To date, 24.60 crore SHCs have been issued.

Major Causes of Organic Carbon Deficiency in Soil:

1. Unsustainable agricultural practices, such as excessive or improper use of chemical fertilizers, frequent tillage/ploughing, stubble burning, overgrazing, and soil erosion.
2. Replacing perennial vegetation with monocropping and pastures.
3. Physical and chemical properties of soil, such as high soil bulk density, gravelly structure, soil erosion, and low water retention capacity due to inadequate irrigation management.

Soil Health Cards for Organic Carbon Improvement:

To address the issue of organic carbon deficiency, the government is implementing the Soil Health and Fertility Scheme, which provides SHCs to farmers. These cards contain information about the organic carbon content of the soil and offer guidance on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), including the balanced use of chemical fertilizers, organic manures, and bio-fertilizers. This initiative aims to improve both the organic carbon content and overall soil health.

₹15,000 Assistance for Organic Farming:

The government is also promoting organic farming through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER). Under these schemes, farmers receive financial assistance of ₹15,000 per hectare through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) over three years. This support is primarily for on-farm and off-farm organic inputs, including bio-fertilizers.

Improving Soil Nutrition through Multi-Cropping and Biomass Mulching: The central government has introduced the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), focusing on improving soil organic matter, structure, and nutrition. Techniques such as biomass mulching, multi-cropping systems and the use of on-farm organic inputs are being promoted under this mission.

ICAR's Role in Promoting Organic Farming: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed location-specific bio-engineering solutions to mitigate soil erosion caused by rainwater runoff and stabilize sand dunes, preventing wind erosion. ICAR has also introduced technologies to rejuvenate degraded soils and enhance their organic carbon content.

ICAR is implementing the Network Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) across 20 centers in 16 states. Under this program, location-specific organic farming packages have been developed for 68 cropping systems. These packages are being demonstrated through various central and state government schemes to promote sustainable agriculture.