digantsharma In a landmark decision aimed at reviving soil fertility and promoting sustainable agriculture, the Government of India has approved the launch of the ‘National Soil Health Mission (NSHM)’ in April 2025. This centrally sponsored scheme focuses on restoring soil health, reducing excessive chemical use, and empowering farmers with science-backed soil management practices.
The initiative comes in response to growing concerns over declining soil quality, rising input costs, and stagnating yields—issues that affect nearly 130 million hectares of arable land across India.
🌱 What is the National Soil Health Mission?
The NSHM is a comprehensive, multi-year program that will integrate with existing schemes like the Soil Health Card Scheme, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to:
- Test, track, and improve soil fertility
- Promote use of organic manure and bio-fertilizers
- Encourage crop rotation and natural farming techniques
- Establish District Soil Labs and farmer advisory centers
🔍 Key Components of the Mission
- Digital Soil Health Mapping
- Use of satellite imagery and AI to map soil types, nutrient levels, and erosion-prone zones
- Mobile apps to provide region-specific fertilizer recommendations to farmers
- District-Level Soil Testing Labs
- Establishment of 500 new labs equipped with automated testing tools
- Fast-tracked soil health cards delivered within 15 days of sample collection
- Soil Health Literacy Campaigns
- Training for 10 lakh farmers on composting, green manure, and judicious fertilizer use
- Public service announcements on national and regional platforms
- Incentives for Organic Inputs
- 60% subsidy on purchase of biofertilizers, composting units, and micronutrients
- Credit-linked support for local input manufacturing units under FPOs
📍 Special Focus Areas
The NSHM will give special emphasis to:
- Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, where excessive fertilizer usage has depleted soil nutrients
- Tribal belts of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, where natural farming practices are being reintroduced
- Rainfed regions vulnerable to soil erosion and degradation
💰 Budget & Timeline
The government has earmarked ₹22,000 crore for the first phase (2025–2028). The funds will be disbursed through state governments and monitored using a central dashboard developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
🧑🌾 Expected Impact
Experts predict that this mission will:
- Improve crop yields by up to 20% in affected areas
- Reduce chemical fertilizer use by 15–20%
- Enhance farmer income through improved soil management and reduced input costs
The mission is seen as a long-overdue correction in India’s agriculture strategy. Dr. Meena Sharma from IARI commented, “Soil is the foundation of food security. This mission addresses the root cause of declining productivity.”
