Union Ministers Arjun Munda and Giriraj Singh Inaugurate 3 Key Agricultural Initiatives at Krishi Bhawan

Union Ministers Arjun Munda and Giriraj Singh together launched three important agricultural sector initiatives today at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, marking a significant step towards improving agricultural practices and empowering farmers. The initiatives launched include the Revamped Soil Health Card Portal & Mobile Application, School Soil Health Program, and the Central Fertilizer Quality Control and Training Institutes’ (CFQCTI’s) portal for fertilizer sample testing.

Revamped Soil Health Card Portal and Mobile Application

Under the revamped Soil Health Card Portal and Mobile Application, a comprehensive system has been introduced for soil sample collection and testing. The portal now features a soil lab registry with real-time status updates, including geo-coordinates mapping. Notably, farmers can monitor the progress of their soil sample testing in real-time, download Soil Health Cards through SMS notifications, and access various features such as fertilizer management and nutrient dashboards. The introduction of QR code-enabled soil sample collection further streamlines the process, ensuring efficient and accurate data collection.

School Soil Health Program

School Soil Health Program, a collaborative effort between the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and the Department of School Education and Literacy, aims to educate students about the significance of soil health and environmental conservation. Initially piloted in 20 schools, program has now been scaled up to 1000 schools, including Kendriya Vidyalyas, Navodaya Vidyalyas, and Eklavya Model Schools. Students will actively participate in soil testing activities, analyze samples, and generate Soil Health Cards, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainable agricultural practices and ecosystem dynamics.

Krishi Sakhi Convergence Program

As part of the Krishi Sakhi Convergence Program, an initiative to empower rural communities, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and the Ministry of Rural Development. This collaborative effort aims to certify 70,000 Krishi Sakhis as "Para-Extension Workers" to enhance the delivery of agricultural schemes and services at the grassroots level. Krishi Sakhis, predominantly women from rural areas, play a vital role in disseminating knowledge about natural farming practices, soil health management, and agricultural schemes, thereby catalyzing rural development and sustainability.

CFQCTI Portal

To ensure quality control in the fertilizer sector, the CFQCTI Portal introduces innovative features such as OTP/SMS application facility for sample collection and testing. This streamlined process enhances transparency and efficiency in fertilizer quality control, benefiting both importers and consumers alike.

The inauguration ceremony witnessed the participation of key stakeholders, including government officials, agricultural experts, and representatives from various educational institutions and grassroots organizations. The concerted efforts of all stakeholders reaffirm the commitment towards revolutionizing India's agricultural landscape and fostering sustainable rural development.

Attendees at the event included Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW); Secretary, Rural Development; Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), along with representatives from State Agriculture Departments, Navoday Vidyalay Samiti (NVS), Kendriya Vidyalay Sangthan (KVS), Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), Krishi Sakhi; Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) workers; various Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) also joined the occasion through Video Conferencing.