Seeds, Soil and Machines: India's Farm Inputs
Soil Health Cards
How India's Soil Health Card scheme tests soil and recommends fertiliser doses, and what evidence says about whether farmers follow the advice.
The Soil Health Card scheme was launched in 2015.
How it works
- Soil samples are tested for nutrients and other properties.
- Farmers receive a card with recommendations for fertiliser types and quantities.
- Crores of cards have been distributed.
The idea
Information can help farmers use the right fertilisers, saving money and improving soils.
Evidence
- Some studies found modest reductions in fertiliser overuse and cost savings.
- Others found many farmers didn’t follow recommendations because:
- Cards were hard to understand.
- Sampling was done at the village grid level, not for each farm.
- Dealers’ advice and habits mattered more.
- Cheap urea made overuse tempting.
Lessons
- Information alone isn’t enough; pricing and extension support matter.
- Timely, simple advice through phones and local agents may work better.
Digital advice
Apps and SMS advisories now deliver soil and weather-based advice.
The unread card
A farmer receives a soil health card recommending less urea and more potash. Unsure and used to his old ways, he follows his dealer's usual advice instead.
Thinking giving information changes behaviour automatically
Prices, habits and trusted advice also shape decisions.
Key takeaways
- Soil Health Cards launched in 2015 recommend fertiliser doses.
- Evidence of impact is mixed.
- Complex cards, habits and cheap urea limit adoption.
- Simple, timely advice and pricing matter too.
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