Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Soil Health Card Scheme
Free soil testing and Soil Health Card with fertilizer recommendations tailored to your specific farm — helps reduce input costs and increase crop yield
The Soil Health Card Scheme is run by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to provide every farmer a card that carries crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilizers required for individual farms to help farmers improve productivity through judicious use of inputs. Over 25 crore soil health cards have been distributed across India since the scheme's launch in 2015. Testing is done once every 2 years.
Am I Eligible?
Quick check — answer 3 questions
Is your age between 18 and 100 years?
Is your annual family income under ₹1 Cr?
Do you live in a Rural area?
Benefit Details
Free soil testing and Soil Health Card with fertilizer recommendations tailored to your specific farm — helps reduce input costs and increase crop yield
Provided by Central Government
Eligibility Criteria
All farmers across India; free of cost; every farm gets its soil tested once every 2 years; no income or land size restriction
18 to 100 years
Up to ₹1 Cr / year
Rural
Required Documents
💡 Tip: Keep original documents and 2 photocopies ready. Self-attest all photocopies.
How to Apply
Contact Local Agriculture Officer
offlineContact your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Gram Panchayat agriculture extension officer, or district agriculture office. Request soil testing for your field — the government collects soil samples at no cost.
Soil Sample Collection
offlineAn agriculture officer will visit your field and collect soil samples from multiple spots in your farm (zigzag pattern, 0–20 cm depth). Samples are labeled with your name, Aadhaar, and land details.
Lab Testing
offlineSamples are sent to government Soil Testing Laboratories. Testing covers 12 parameters: pH, EC, Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, Zinc, Boron, Iron, Manganese, and Copper.
Download Soil Health Card
onlineVisit soilhealth.dac.gov.in → click "Farmer's Corner" → enter your state and mobile number → download your card as PDF. The card has colour-coded recommendations for each nutrient.
Follow Fertilizer Recommendations
offlineUse the card's crop-wise fertilizer recommendations to apply only what your soil needs. Follow-up testing is done after 2 years to track improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Summary
Related Schemes
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
Crop insurance covering up to 100% of crop loss; farmer pays only 2% premium for Kharif, 1.5% for Rabi crops — rest covered by government
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
55% subsidy on drip/sprinkler irrigation for general farmers; 75% for small, marginal, and SC/ST farmers — covering equipment cost from source to farm
Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
Revolving credit limit up to ₹5 lakh at 4% effective interest rate for crop expenses, equipment, and allied agriculture activities
PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
₹6,000/year to all landholding farmers in 3 installments of ₹2,000 each via Direct Benefit Transfer
⚠️ Disclaimer: Information is compiled from official government sources for guidance purposes. Eligibility and benefits may vary. Always verify with the official portal or nearest government office before applying.
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