HP govt to distribute 1 lakh soil cards during 13-day campaign

The Himachal Pradesh government will distribute one lakh soil health cards during a 13-day special campaign launched on the World Soil Health Day today to create awareness among farmers about the importance of soil testing.
During the campaign, which would culminate on December 17, farmers would be informed about the importance of soil testing and use of appropriate and balanced use of fertilisers and nutrients, a spokesman of the Agriculture department said.
Realising the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to food, water, energy security and as a mitigator of biodiversity loss and climate change, the World Soil health Day is celebrated on December 5 throughout the world and soil testing is a vital component of the programme, he added.

The department has set up 11 soil testing laboratories andfour mobile soil testing labs to help farmers get their soils tested, which is being done free of cost.
The Union government had launched 'soil health card' in February. In the current financial year, a sum of Rs 1.65 crore is being spent on this programme.
Under it, 69,635 soil samples would be taken through GPS system. One sample is taken from 2.5 hectare grid of irrigated and 5 hectare grid of un-irrigated land.