RKVYSHFSHC
RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card
6.7/10Soil Health Card is designed to give each farmer soil nutrient status of his/her holding and advice him/her on the dosage of fertilizers and also the needed soil amendments, that s/he should apply to maintain soil health in the long run.
States / UT: All India
Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Nodal department: Department of Agriculture and Cooperation
Scheme for: Individual
Scheme profile
DBT (direct benefit transfer): No
Scheme open date: 2015-01-01
Categories: Agriculture,Rural & Environment
Sub-categories: Soil health
Target beneficiaries: Individual
Tags: Soil Health, INM, Soil Testing, Farmer, RKVY
Details
SHC can be downloaded by the farmers from the SHC portal or through SMS link received on mobile. It will contain the status of his soil with respect to 12 parameters, namely N,P,K, S (Macro-nutrients); Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo (Micro - nutrients) ; and pH, EC, OC. Based on this, the SHC will also indicate fertilizer recommendations and soil amendment required for the farm.
ComponentRateSoil sampling, testing, and generation of SHCRs 300 per SHC (Rs 40 for soil collection + Rs 150 for testing (analysing soil samples + cost of chemical) + Rs. 110 for awareness
The key objectives of the scheme are as follows:
• To promote soil test based nutrient management across the country
• To issue soil health cards to all farmers across the country
• Strengthen the functioning of soil testing laboratories and associated infrastructure
• Capacity building of district and state level staff for promotion of nutrient management practices
• To diagnose soil fertility related constraints with standardized procedures for sampling uniformly across states; and analyse and design fertilizer recommendations.
Benefits
- The scheme targets to provide following benefits: 1) Provide free / affordable access to soil test 2) Provide farmers with timely and accurate soil analysis results 3) Facilitate customized soil nutrient recommendations based on test results 4) Enable farmers to optimize their fertiliser use and minimise input costs, and hence avoid under- or over- application of fertiliser
The scheme targets to provide following benefits:
- Provide free / affordable access to soil test
- Provide farmers with timely and accurate soil analysis results
- Facilitate customized soil nutrient recommendations based on test results
- Enable farmers to optimize their fertiliser use and minimise input costs, and hence avoid under- or over- application of fertiliser
Eligibility
The scheme is applicable for all farmers in India.
How useful is this scheme?
A practical look at this scheme for citizens
AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.
- Accessibility8.0
- Financial impact5.0
- Rural utility7.0
- Awareness7.5
- Simplicity5.0
- Inclusivity7.0
What problem does this scheme solve?
The scheme provides essential soil health information to farmers, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Key challenges addressed
- Lack of knowledge about soil health
- Overuse or underuse of fertilizers
Most beneficial for
- Smallholder farmers
- First-time applicants
Likely challenges
- Access to local agriculture officers
- Understanding technical recommendations
Practical insights for citizens
Practical for farmers with access to local agriculture offices
Rural challenges
- Limited access to agricultural officers
- Transportation issues
Digital challenges
- Low smartphone penetration
- Limited internet access
Implementation bottlenecks
- Inconsistent availability of local officers
- Delays in soil testing
Awareness challenges
- Limited outreach programs
- Need for more community engagement
Application analysis
- Application mode
- Offline office
- Documents burden
- Minimal, varies by state
- Verification complexity
- Moderate
- Office dependency
- High
- DBT dependency
- No
- CSC support
- Limited
- Estimated citizen effort
- Moderate effort required to visit local offices
Estimated beneficiary reach
Benefit analysis
- Benefit type
- In Kind
- Benefit frequency
- As needed based on soil testing
- Benefit practicality
- High, as it provides tailored recommendations
- Financial meaningfulness
- Moderate, helps reduce fertilizer costs
- Long-term impact
- Positive impact on soil health and agricultural productivity
Plain-language guidance
Farmers can get a Soil Health Card to understand their soil's nutrient status and receive recommendations for fertilizers. This helps improve crop yield and soil health.
- Who should apply
- Any farmer looking to optimize their soil health and fertilizer use.
- Who may struggle
- Farmers with limited access to local agriculture offices or those who are semi-literate.
- Best application route
- Apply through the District Agriculture Office for soil testing.
This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.
Application Process
Offline
Step 01: Farmer approaches a District Agriculture Officer / Block Agriculture Officer for soil testing and generation of a SHC.
Step 02: The concerned officer shall initiate the process for the concerned farmer wherein they assess whether the applicant’s district / village falls under State Annual Action Plan for generation of SHC.
Step 03: Agent visits the farmer and collects farmer details, land details and geo-tags the land through mobile app and takes a sample of the soil for testing
Step 04: The soil is tested on set parameters and a Soil Health report is generated for the farmer’s land
Step 05: The report contains results as well as recommendations on suitable crops for the soil type, and the quantity and type of fertiliser to be used.
Clarifications
Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).
- Is there a fee for getting the soil tested?
No. The entire application process is completely free of cost under this scheme.
- Can I get my soil tested for other parameters than mentioned in the scheme?
No.
- How are the recommendations arrived at?
Recommendations are based on GFR developed by State Agriculture Universities.
- Can any farmer apply for a soil health card?
Yes, any farmer can apply for a soil health card for his/her land, through District Agriculture Office.
- How to apply for the scheme?
For generation of SHC, farmer should reach out to the District / State Nodal officer if he/she wants to get soil testing done for free. Agent visits the farmer and collects farmer details, land details and geo-tags the land through mobile app and generates a QR code (which carries information on farmer and land). The soil is taken to a STL where it is tested on 12 parameters. The SHC is generated after soil test on portal. The SHC gives crop recommendations and fertiliser recommendations (which crop should be grown on this soil type and how much and which fertiliser is best suited).
- What are the documents required for the scheme?
The documents may vary for each state. It is recommended to consult with the relevant authorities for detailed information.
Official links
References
- Website
- https://www.soilhealth.dac.gov.in/home
Apply
Apply nowOpens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the purpose of RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Agriculture,Rural & Environment, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
- Who can apply for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Eligibility for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
- What benefits are offered under RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Benefits under RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
- Which department manages RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card is managed by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
- Can users apply online for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
- Is Aadhaar mandatory for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
- Where can users apply for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Applications for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
- What documents may be required for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
- Is income certificate required for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card.
- Is RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card a central government scheme?
- Yes, RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
- Can small and marginal farmers apply for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Eligible small and marginal farmers may apply for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card subject to land ownership records, income eligibility, and agricultural beneficiary criteria.
- Does RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card provide subsidy support for farmers?
- RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card may provide agricultural subsidies, financial assistance, crop support, irrigation benefits, insurance coverage, or farming-related welfare assistance depending on the scheme structure.
- Does RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card provide healthcare or insurance support?
- RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card may provide healthcare assistance, insurance coverage, cashless treatment support, medical reimbursement, or hospital-related benefits depending on the scheme structure.
- Can beneficiaries use RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card at government hospitals?
- Eligible beneficiaries may be able to access services at empanelled hospitals, government healthcare facilities, or authorised healthcare providers depending on scheme participation rules.
- Can CSC centres help users apply for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
- How can users check the latest updates for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
- Are there deadlines for applying to RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Some schemes may operate through fixed application windows, annual registration cycles, or department-specific deadlines depending on scheme implementation policies.
- Can beneficiaries track application status for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card?
- Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
- Where can users get help for RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card in All India?
- Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
- Which nearby public services may help with RKVY Soil Health and Fertility - Soil Health Card applications?
- Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.