Assistant Director at the Regional Soil Testing Laboratory (Prayagraj), Piyush Rai, said that for the current financial year, the Directorate of Agriculture had set a target of making 8,800 Soil Health Cards for the Kharif season in the district. Prayagraj: To check soil degradation caused by excessive use of chemical fertilisers, the state govt has started issuing Soil Health Cards (SHC) to farmers across all districts. The target was achieved in October itself.
Prior to this, 46,000 cards were prepared in 2025 and 23,000 in 2024. A total of 77,800 Soil Health Cards have been issued to farmers in Prayagraj district so far. A total of 12 parameters are assessed for these Soil Health Cards. An organic carbon level of 560 kg per hectare is considered good, while a range of 280 to 560 kg falls into the medium category. To enhance acceptance and expand the initiative’s reach, the participation of rural women has been ensured, with 24 ‘Krishi Sakhis’ (farm facilitators) in the district providing support.
Stay updated with the latest Prayagraj news.
Deputy Director (Agriculture) Pawan Kumar Vishwakarma said that farmers are being encouraged to use organic inputs—such as Trichoderma—and green manure instead of harsh chemicals. In addition to the main laboratory, separate soil testing centres have been opened in five tehsils of the district and these centres test for six soil indicators, while the remaining six are analysed at the Soil Conservation Lab located at the district headquarters. In the pursuit of maximising yields, farmers have been compromising the health of their land. In the pursuit of higher yields, the use of urea and other chemical fertilisers in fields has exceeded necessary levels. This practice is destroying beneficial insects and bacteria present in the soil. However, the average level in Prayagraj district is even lower than this medium range. Organic carbon binds soil particles together, maintaining a loose, crumbly texture. A lack of carbon causes the soil to become hard and crusted, obstructing the circulation of air and water. Carbon acts like a sponge, retaining moisture, and its deficiency causes the soil to dry out quickly, necessitating frequent irrigation. Moreover, the soil’s ability to retain nutrients and supply them to plants is compromised. Earthworms and beneficial bacteria rely on organic carbon for survival. A decline in carbon leads to a sharp drop in their populations, contributing to soil barrenness. In addition to soil improvement measures, the officials of the agriculture department are guiding farmers on smart farming techniques adapted to changing weather conditions. Farmers are being mentally prepared for organic farming, enabling them to utilise fertilisers and pesticides derived from cattle. In light of declining groundwater levels, the campaign provides live training on modern water conservation techniques such as drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ approach. Download the TOI App.