Strengthening Soil Health in India

Syllabus Areas:

GS I - Geography and Environment

GS III - Agriculture

Soil is one of India's most valuable natural resources, forming the foundation of food security, agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and rural livelihoods. The Government of India has adopted a comprehensive strategy combining scientific soil management, digital technologies, sustainable farming, and climate-resilient policies to protect and restore soil health 

Why is Healthy Soil Important?

• Supports agricultural productivity and food security.

• Sustains ecosystems and biodiversity.

• Regulates water storage and groundwater recharge.

• Stores carbon and helps mitigate climate change.

• Provides livelihoods for millions of farmers.

• Prevents land degradation and desertification.

Major Government Initiatives

1. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) (2014–15)

• Promotes climate-resilient agriculture, soil health, and water-use efficiency.

• Achievements: ₹2,194.84 crore released; 8.50 lakh ha covered; 14.35 lakh farmers benefited.

2. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) (2024)

• Promotes chemical-free, low-cost, sustainable farming.

• Progress: 18,786 clusters; 8.80 lakh ha; 18.19 lakh farmers enrolled; 33,676 Community Resource Persons trained.

3. National Mission for a Green India (GIM)

• Restores degraded forests, increases tree cover, and enhances carbon sequestration.

• Achievement: Forest carbon stock increased by 2.29 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent (2005–2021).

4. Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) (2023)

• Encourages greenhouse gas reduction through carbon credits.

• Benefits: Additional farmer income, climate mitigation, and promotion of carbon farming.

5. Soil Health Card Scheme (2015)

• Provides scientific soil testing and crop-specific fertilizer recommendations.

• Achievements: 26 crore Soil Health Cards issued; 7.17 lakh demonstrations; 70,002 Krishi Sakhis trained; 4,430 schools and 1.29 lakh students covered (2025–26).

Balanced Nutrient Management

Government Initiatives for Efficient Fertilizer Use

1. Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS)

Objective: Promote balanced application of plant nutrients.

• Subsidy is linked to the nutrient content of fertilizers rather than the product itself.

• Applicable to Phosphatic (P) and Potassic (K) fertilizers.

• Encourages farmers to adopt balanced fertilization, improving soil health and crop productivity.

2. Aadhaar-enabled Point of Sale (AePDS/PoS) System

Objective: Ensure transparent and targeted fertilizer distribution.

• Records real-time fertilizer sales at retail outlets.

• Uses Aadhaar authentication to identify genuine beneficiaries.

• Prevents leakages, duplication, and unauthorized diversion of fertilizers.

3. Neem-Coated Urea

Neem-Coated Urea (NCU) is ordinary urea fertilizer coated with neem oil or neem-based compounds. The coating slows the release of nitrogen into the soil, improving its efficiency and reducing wastage. 

Objective: Improve nitrogen-use efficiency and reduce misuse.

• Neem coating slows the release of nitrogen, ensuring gradual nutrient availability.

• Enhances nutrient-use efficiency and reduces fertilizer wastage.

• Prevents diversion of urea for non-agricultural and industrial purposes.

4. Integrated Fertiliser Management System (IFMS)

Objective: Strengthen fertilizer supply chain management.

• Digitizes and streamlines fertilizer production, movement, and distribution.

• Improves logistics and inventory management.

• Enhances transparency, timely availability, and efficient monitoring of fertilizer supplies.

AI-Based Soil Management

• Soil Nutrient Deficiency Detection: AI identifies deficiencies of N, P, K, and micronutrients using soil tests, sensors, and crop images.

• Precision Fertilizer Recommendations: Suggests the right fertilizer type, dose, and timing based on soil and crop needs.

• Remote Sensing: Uses satellites, drones, and IoT sensors to monitor soil moisture, fertility, salinity, and erosion.

• AI-Driven Crop Planning: Recommends suitable crops, crop rotation, and sowing schedules based on soil and climate.

• GIS & Satellite Mapping: Creates digital soil maps for land-use planning and precision agriculture.

• Decision Support Systems (KDSS): Provides scientific recommendations for irrigation, fertilization, and sustainable soil management.

Way Forward:

• Strengthen scientific soil health assessment and regular soil testing.

• Promote natural, organic, and climate-smart farming practices.

• Encourage balanced fertilizer use and integrated nutrient management.

• Expand carbon farming and carbon credit mechanisms.

• Enhance digital soil mapping and AI-based precision agriculture.

• Increase farmer awareness through extension services and capacity-building programmes.

• Improve long-term agricultural resilience and ensure sustainable food security.

Healthy soils are the foundation of sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate resilience. Scientific management, balanced fertilization, digital innovations, and farmer-centric initiatives will ensure productive soils for future generations.