Soil Health Cards Drive Farming Revolution in Gujarat, Boosting Yields and Cutting Costs

Gandhinagar | Gujarat — A simple soil test has emerged as a game changer for thousands of farmers across Gujarat, helping them reduce fertilizer expenses, improve crop productivity and restore soil health. The impact is evident in the fields of Bhavnagar farmer Hireni Nakrani, whose experience highlights the transformative power of the Soil Health Card scheme.

Nakrani, a cotton farmer from Gariadhar village with 12 bighas of land, had been using nearly 400 kg of urea and 290 kg of DAP every year. Despite the heavy fertilizer use, his cotton production remained stagnant at around 200 maunds. After receiving scientific recommendations through a Soil Health Card issued following laboratory testing of his soil, he significantly reduced fertilizer consumption.

“Earlier, we applied fertilizers blindly, believing that more fertilizer meant better yields,” Nakrani said. “The Soil Health Card acted like an X-ray of my land. Today, my fertilizer costs have reduced by half and my harvest has increased substantially.”

Following the recommendations, his urea usage dropped to 180 kg and DAP to 140 kg. The result was a sharp reduction in cultivation costs and a jump in cotton production from 200 to 281 maunds.

The benefits extend beyond higher incomes. Arunbhai Meniya, a farmer from Surendranagar district, said adopting recommendations from his Soil Health Card encouraged him to use more organic inputs. “The soil that had become hard over the years regained softness and retained moisture much better,” he said.

According to agriculture officials, Soil Health Cards analyze 12 critical soil parameters, including major nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, along with essential micronutrients. The reports enable farmers to apply fertilizers precisely, reducing waste and preserving soil fertility.

Since its launch in Gujarat in 2003-04, the initiative has issued more than 2.23 crore Soil Health Cards. The state now aims to test 2.18 lakh soil samples this year, continuing a movement that has become a cornerstone of sustainable and scientific farming in India.