State delays implementation of Central agri scheme

Ministry doubtful if Karnataka will issue cards by World Soil Day on Dec 5

The Centre has expressed displeasure over the delay in implementation of the Soil Health Card Scheme in Karnataka and asked the State to expedite it.

In a meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Tuesday, to review all Centrally sponsored schemes in the Agriculture Ministry, it was observed that Karnataka was lagging behind in the implementation of the Soil Health Card scheme.

As the Centre is preparing to celebrate World Soil Day on December 5, the minister wants the states to distribute Soil Health cards to farmers on the same day. With Karnataka lagging behind in the programme, officials in the Ministry of Agriculture now doubt whether the State will be ready to distribute the cards.

While asking Karnataka to implement the scheme at the earliest, the minister directed the State government to take up programmes to explain to farmers the importance of the scheme and its benefits. The minister also directed all states to implement the scheme in a transparent manner.

Rajasthan, Gujarat, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya have made strides in implementing the scheme, said a senior official in the Agriculture Ministry.

It may be noted that there was an allegation of manipulation in awarding the tender under the soil testing scheme in Karnataka and the Agriculture Ministry also received a complaint in this regard.

The soil testing scheme, launched by the Union Ministry of Agriculture, involved testing the soil in agricultural land and educating farmers on how to make it more fertile for better yield.

Under the scheme, the State Agriculture Department can assign soil testing, as well as educating farmers to a private firm with expertise. The scheme also involves setting up soil-testing laboratories and issuing soil health cards to farmers.

Of the total expenditure of the scheme, around 40 per cent of the cost will be borne by the Union ministry, while the rest will be spent by the State government.