Kantilal Dande, I.A.S.

,
Collector & District Magistrate,
Guntur District, A.P, 1
Hon’ble PM, India Launching the Programme at
Suratgarh, Rajasthan
Agriculture as a key to poverty eradication.
It is necessary to nurture the soil
-Sri Narendra Modi,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
2
 PRE HISTORY
 The world’s worst recorded food disaster happened in
1943 in British ruled India known as the Bengal Famine.
An estimated four million people died of hunger that year
alone in Eastern India due to acute shortfall in food
production.
 Nevertheless when the British left India four years later in
1947, India continued to be haunted by memories of the
Bengal Famine which led to the Green Revolution in
India.
 However, the term “Green Revolution” synchronises to the
period from 1967 to 1978. Between 1947 and 1967, efforts
at achieving food self sufficiency were not entirely
successful.
3
 RECOMMENDED BALANCED DIET AS
PER INDIAN STANDARDS
(gms/day)
Food Items Adult Man Adult Woman
Sedentary Moderate Heavy Sedentary Moderate Heavy
at work work work work

Cereals 460 520 670 410 440 575

Pulses 40 50 60 40 45 50
Leafy Vegetables 40 40 40 100 100 100
Other Vegetables 60 70 80 40 40 100
Roots & Tubers 50 60 80 50 50 60
Milk 150 200 250 100 150 200
Oils & fats 40 45 65 20 25 40
Sugar & Jaggery 30 35 55 20 20 40

Source : http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0172e/x0172e02.htm
4
Per capita availability of food grains in India
S No Year Population Food grain Per capita
(in Crores) production (in availability of food
MTs) grains (in grams /
day)
1 1951 36.10 50.8 124
2 1961 43.92 82.0 124
3 1971 54.81 108.4 112
4 1981 68.33 128.96 128
5 1991 84.63 176.4 176
6 2001 102.70 196.8 220
7 2011 121.3 250 281
8 2014 # 125.0 257 324
# Projected Values
Population increased in Geometrical ratio where as the food production in
Arithmetic ratio
5
The discovery of agriculture was the first big step
toward a civilized life.
6
Arthur Keith
7
8
 Strategies adopted for Green
Revolution
• Use of High yielding varieties
• Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
• New projects were built, irrigation potential
generated
• Use of tractors, motor pumps & farm machinery
increased
• Banks lent Agricultural loans to farmers
(the GOI Nationalized 14 largest commercial banks having 85% of deposits
in the country during 1969)
9
 Impact of Green Revolution

 The Green revolution in Agriculture increased the

yields of food crops ie., Rice, Wheat.

 Nation attained self sufficiency in food production.

 GOI started maintaining Buffer stocks (started FCI

during 1964) of food, fertilizers and seeds.

 Government able to curb inflationary trend of food

products.

10
 Aftermath

 Fertiliser responsive, Photo insensitive HYVs

highly prone to Pests and diseases
 Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers &
pesticides caused pollution.
 Mechanization triggered Agricultural labour
unemployment
 Increased disparity between large and small
farmers

11
Trends in fertiliser consumption
(N, P and K) in India

Source: Fertiliser Association of India (2010)

12
Pesticide Consumption over the
years in India

13
Per hectare fertiliser use by states in
India
(kg/ha)

Source : Fertilizer Association of India (2010)

14
 Low Production (Food Scarcity)

Green revolution (Cultivation of Fertilizer responsive HYVs)

Enhanced use of Fertilizer

Succulent and Luxurious Crop Plants

High incidence of Pests and Diseases

Indiscriminate use of Pesticides

Alarming levels of Chemical Residues in Food and Soil

Health Hazards to Human, Animals

Soil Health Degradation
Birds & Nature as a whole

15
WHAT IS SOIL ?
 Soil can be defined as the organic and
inorganic materials on the surface of the
Earth that provides the medium for plant
growth.
 Soil is the mixture of minerals, organic
matter, gases, liquids, and the countless
organisms that together support life on Earth.

SOIL HEALTH
 Condition or status where optimal condition
for crop growth exists i.e. sufficient moisture,
availability of nutrients and good soil texture
and structure.
SOIL HEALTH CARD (SHC)
 Evaluates health or quality of soil as a function of its characteristics with
particular reference to availability of macro and micronutrients in the soil.
 SHC is a tool to help the farmer to monitor and improve soil health based on
recommendations and enables the farmer to use the soil and crop specific
fertilizers.
 It provides a qualitative assessment of soil health and reclamation measures to
the problematic soil. 16
 SOIL HEALTH DEGRADATION
 Excessive use of Chemical Fertilizers lead to
 Reduced Microbial activity due to low Humus Content
 Excessive usage of Macronutrients like
# Nitrogen - Increased succulency lead the
crops to more susceptible to
pests & diseases.
# Phosphorus - Affects the uptake of available
Micronutrients.
 Development of - Acidic and Alkaline Soils
Problematic soils
To optimize the Integrated use of manures and fertilizers and
to reduce cost of cultivation it is necessary to test the soil and
issue Soil Health Cards to farmers, with the ultimate objective
of achieving Fertile Soils and Healthy Crops 17
 “The Green Revolution was criticised
by social activists on the ground that
the high-yield technology involving
the use of mineral fertilizers and
chemical pesticides is
environmentally harmful. Similarly,
some economists felt that the new
technologies would bypass small and
marginal farmers, for although the
technologies are scale-neutral, they
are not resource-neutral. This led to
my coining the term “ever-green
Father of Green Revolution in India revolution,” to emphasise the need
M.S SWAMINATHAN to enhance productivity in
perpetuity without ecological harm”.

18
 Guntur Tops in consumption of pesticides and 5th in
respect of fertilizers at National level.
 Indiscriminate fertilizer consumption made the crops more
vulnerable to pests and diseases.
 Excessive dependence on pesticides lead to more cost of
cultivation.
 Environmental pollution ie., Soil, Air and Water.

 Hazards to Humans and Animals.

 There is dire need to optimize the fertilizer usage by

adopting balanced nutrient management through SHC.
19
 COMPARITIVE PRODUCTIVITY
Kgs/ha.

S.
Crop Guntur AP India World
No

3152 3721 6775

1. Paddy (Rice) 3158
(Nellore 3709) (Punjab) (China )

1542
Cotton 796 2298
2. 1095 (Rajastan
(Kapas) (Prakasam 1324) (China)
2151)

3. Blackgram 1099 681 735 890

4. Greengram 872 573 735 890

5. Maize 9144 4475 2583 4930

6. Jowar 5987 2411 962 1440

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21
AIM :

1. Soil samples were collected by using 171 GPS (Global

Positioning System) which facilitates accuracy in
preparation of soil fertility maps.
2. Farmers are advised to use balanced fertilizers as per the
soil analysis data by issuing Soil Health Cards well before
commencement of season.
3. Reclamation of problematic soils as per the
recommendations of the soil health cards.
4. To facilitate Double Digit Growth in Agriculture by
correcting the micro nutrient deficiencies.

23
 Target and Achievement – 2015-16
Name of the Institution Macro Nutrients Micro Nutrients
Target Achievement (Target -16000)

Department of Agriculture
STL, Guntur 16,520 17,133 7,340
AMC – STL, Narasaraopet 5,490 5900 1344
RSTL – Bapatla 6,990 7154 3530
MSTL – Bapatla 3,000 3049 --
ANGRAU Institutions
RARS – Lam, Guntur -- -- 2191
AG College, Bapatla -- -- 1505
International Institutions
ICRISAT -- -- 692
Total 32,000 33,236 16,636
• No. of Soil Health Cards distributed including grid farmers – 1,40,000
• No. of Water Samples analyzed and cards distributed – 1,140
24
Target for 2016-17
No. of Soil Samples : 81, 560(Guntur dt.)
STL, Guntur - 30, 537
AMC, NRT - 11, 206
MSTL, BPT - 22, 349
RSTL, BPT - 17, 468

Soil Health Cards Target : 3, 01, 263

(including grid farmers)

Planned to analyse Targetted samples by the end of June @ 16300/month

25
MEASURES TAKEN TO POOL RESOURCES FOR
EXECUTION OF SCHEME
 Human Resources :

 Involved : ICRISAT, ANGRAU in addition to Govt. of AP Soil

Testing Labs.
 Additional Staff : Staff of PTL, FCO, FTC and Field
functionaries, ATMA staff drafted for the purpose.
 Daily wage workers : Sample preparation and Cleaning of
glass ware.
 Data entry operators : Online Data entry of Soil Analysis
report in Soil Health Cards in E- Rythu Sevalu Portal of AP.

26
 OTHER LOGISTICS

 Distilled Water : Collected from Govt., Private, ANGRAU

Laboratories.

 Power : 5 KV Solar System, Generator along with UPS.

 Chemicals, Glassware & Equipment : Provided with

Chemicals, Glassware and all equipment (along with
standby).

27
 Strengthening Lab to test Micro
Nutrients
ATOMIC ABSOROPTION SPECTRO PHOTO METERS
AVAVILABLE STATUS

Sl. Existing Addl. No

Name of the Lab Total
No No Provided
1 STL, Guntur 1 1 2
2 RSTL ,Bapatla 2 -- 2

3 AMC, Narasaraopet 1 -- 1

TOTAL : 4 1 5

Also utilized the Services of Soil Science Dept of RARS – Lam,Guntur.

College of Agriculture, Bapatla and ICRISAT, Hyderabad for analysis of Micro
Nutrients.

28
STEPS TO DEPLOY TRAINED SOIL SCIENTISTS TO
FILL UP VACANCIES INTO LABS

Technical Staff Positioned during 2015-16.

Existing Staff Additional Staff Positioned
Persons Persons Persons
Name of the with B.Sc with with good
Sl.No Soil Testing (Ag)/ M.Sc BSc./Agri computer
Lab. Lab (Ag) Soil Diploma knowledge Daily wage
ADA AO AEO
Assistants science as “to assist workers
“as data
“Analysts the entry
” Analysts” operators”

1 STL, Guntur 1 3 1 1 8 8 5 6
STL, AMC
2
Narsaraopet - 1 1 - 4 4 2 2
RSTL,
3
Bapatla 1 3 1 1 6 6 4 4
MSTL,
4
Bapatla 1 1 1 2 7 8 4 5
Total 3 8 4 4 24 26 15 17

29
STEPS TO DEPLOY TRAINED SOIL SCIENTISTS TO
FILL UP VACANCIES INTO LABS
Technical Staff Planned during 2016-17.
Existing Staff Additional Staff Positioned
Persons Persons Persons
Name of the with B.Sc with with good
Sl.No Soil Testing (Ag)/ M.Sc BSc./Agri. computer
Lab. Lab (Ag) Soil Diploma knowledge Daily wage
ADA AO AEO
Assistants science as “to assist workers
“as data
“Analysts the entry
” Analysts” operators”

1 STL, Guntur 1 3 1 1 20 20 5 10
STL, AMC
2
Narsaraopet - 1 1 - 20 20 5 10
RSTL,
3
Bapatla - 3 1 1 20 20 5 10
MSTL,
4
Bapatla 1 1 1 2 20 20 5 10
Total 2 8 4 4 80 80 20 40

30
 TRAININGS AND WORK SHOPS
Training / Work Subject 2015-16 2016-17
Shop

State level Planning January January

District level Planning February February
Revenue Division Grid formation, GPS & February January
level Android App, Agrisnet/ NIC
portal, Sample collection &
Mandal level sending to labs February January
Village level January January
Soil Analysts Analytical Procedures & January January
Agrisnet/ NIC portal

31
 MEASURES TAKEN TO COMPLETE
SAMPLE ANALYSIS IN TIME
 Sampling : Division of targets – Week wise; officer wise
starting from December to May.
 Analysis : Division of targets – Lab wise; week wise; team wise
starting from December to June.
 Printing of SHC : Simultaneously from January to June.
 Distribution of SHC: May to July
 Awareness campaign on SHC : April to July
 Monitoring Cell : Ensures all above activities done as per
schedule.

32
PLANNING

Details 2015-16 2016-17

Target 32000 81560
Prorata Target / month 8000 16300
No. of Shifts 2 2
No. of Teams 4 8
Sets for Analysis 2 2
Officers engaged for analysis 50 160*
* AEOs/MPEOs/ATMA staff are engaged apart from Agricultural
Officers

33
 Farmers Involvement and Campaign for Soil Sample
Collection / Card distribution and educating farmers
Soil Sample Collection

 Preparation of village wise schedule

 Communication of Schedule :
 Print and electronic media, FM Radio, Tom-tom, Blackboard
writings, SMS through Reliance foundation, Local Cable
Network, Meetings, Farmer Facilitators, Personal Contacts etc.,
 Involving RMGs, JLGs, SHGs, PACS, Local bodies etc.,
 Involving peoples representatives.
 Organizing Village level Demonstrations for Sample Collection

Distribution and understanding of SHC

 Village level meetings involving all above.

Follow up for SOIL TEST BASED FERT. USAGE

 Innovators, Early adopters, contact farmers, RMGs, JLGs, SHGs, PACS,

Farmer facilitators etc., 34
Method of soil sample collection

Awareness creation on sampling Collection of soil from pit

Preparation of composite sample Preparation of representative sample

(Quartering) 35
 Awareness on Soil Health
Management.
 Awareness on SHC by conducting Meeting / Trainings/
Exhibitions and Demos at Village level.
 Utilising Departmental Programmes like Polampilushondi,
Janmabhumi - Maa Vooru and other demonstrations for
popularizing importance of Soil Health management.
 Popularizing Soil Test based Fertilizer usage.

 Soil ameliorating measures for problematic Soils.

 Growing and incorporation of Green manure crop at 50%

flowering to improve the organic matter content.

36
 Innovative measures adopted
Technology 2015-16 2016-17

GPS Instrument 171 171

Android App 0 500

Online Data Entry Agrisnet NIC

Communication of SMS, Internet, Health SMS, Internet,

recommendations Cards Health Cards

Village Fertility maps Yes Yes

Innovative measures contd…

37
Sample Collection Details Screen

38
Farmer Details Entry

39
Sample Collection Details

40
STL Login

41
Micro Nutrients entry screen

42
Macro Nutrients entry screen at STL level

43
Exact Location of Zoom View

44
Soil Health Card
distributed to
farmers of
Andhra Pradesh

45
 Outcome of the Scheme – 2015-16
 74% of the Soils are low in Organic carbon Content.

 84% Soils high in Potash & 62% high in P2O5.

 Sulphur Deficiency is very low i.e, 3% and 39% Zinc deficiency.

 1791MTs of Zinc sulphate, 3400 MTs of Gypsum and 21MTs of

Boron were supplied to the farmers on 50% subsidy for
correcting micronutrient deficiency covering 2,15,000 Ha.

 22% of Iron deficiency was identified in rain fed areas which was
corrected by application of Ferrous Sulphate as Soil application.

 Inspite of drought situation - Paddy, Blackgram, Greengram,

Bengalgram, Redgram, Maize recorded better yields as
Micronutrient deficiency correction was done in time.
46
 Suggestions for improvement in
the Scheme
 Designing mechanical equipment to draw soil samples
at different depths, viz, 0-15, 15-30 cm etc.

 MPAES for each lab is provided for analysing targeted

soil samples in time accurately.

 Strengthening of existing Soil testing laboratories at

Agril. Market yards which facilitate easy approach to
farmers for getting soil analysis in time.

47
 ORGANIZATION OF THE WORLD SOIL DAY
 On 5th December, 2015 “World Soil Day” was organized at large in RARS,
LAM, Guntur.

 Hon’ble Minister for Social welfare & Tribal Welfare empowerment &
other People’s Representatives, Collector & District Magistrate, Guntur,
State Agricultural University Officials & Department Officials
participated.

 About 5000 farmers participated.

 30000 pamphlets on success stories of organic farming, soil test based

fertilizer application, micronutrient deficiency correction and
reclamation of problematic soils were distributed among the farmers.

 The soil health cards were distributed to the farmers and educated them
regarding the importance of soil health cards.

 Hon’ble Minister for Social Welfare inaugurated five mobile soil testing
laboratories.
48
 World Soil Day Celebrations

Distribution of SHC on World Soil Day by Hon’ble Farmers, Scientists, who have attended World Soil
Minsiter of Social Welfare Andhra Pradesh Day Programme on 05.12.2015

Soil Fertility Status Map of Guntur district Flag Off for Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories by
Hon’ble Minsiter for Social Welfare 49
 Guntur District
Stepping towards Chemical free Agriculture
High Input Agriculture

Indiscriminate use of Fertilizers and Pesticides

Farmer Field Schools (Polambadi)

ICM (INM + IPM)

NPM

Bio-fertilisers and Bio-pesticides

Organic Farming

Natural Farming

Healthy Soil -> Healthy Food -> Healthy Nation

50
 Micro Irrigation Organic Farming

Healthy Crop

Non Pesticide Management

Natural Farming
51
The future belongs to Nations who have grains not guns.
MS Swaminathan

52