Government reports 26.09 crore Soil Health Cards issued, while natural and organic farming programmes expand across the country

Key Highlights

• 26.09 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated and issued to farmers.
• More than 1.36 crore farmers were reached through the 2026 Kharif-season soil-health awareness campaign.
• 23.13 lakh farmers have registered under the National Mission on Natural Farming.
• Natural farming practices now cover 11.44 lakh hectares.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana has brought 18.93 lakh hectares under organic farming.
• Fermented Organic Manure and Liquid Fermented Organic Manure consumption reached 11.86 lakh tonnes during the current Kharif season up to July 16, 2026.
• Government is promoting integrated pest and weed management to reduce excessive use of chemicals and protect soil health.

India is expanding measures to prevent soil degradation and promote sustainable agricultural production, with the government reporting a significant increase in soil-health monitoring, natural farming, organic cultivation and integrated pest management initiatives.

The measures are aimed at improving soil fertility, encouraging judicious use of fertilisers and herbicides, reducing cultivation costs and supporting the long-term productivity of India’s agricultural land.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

26.09 crore Soil Health Cards issued

The government’s Soil Health & Fertility Scheme, operational since 2014–15, promotes balanced fertiliser use through soil testing.

Under the programme, farmers receive Soil Health Cards (SHCs) containing information on the nutrient status of their soil, along with crop-specific fertiliser recommendations.

The government says 26.09 crore Soil Health Cards have so far been generated and issued.

To improve adoption of the recommendations, authorities have organised:

• 1,30,627 farmer training programmes;
• 7.17 lakh demonstrations; and
• 7,425 farmer fairs and awareness campaigns.

The objective is to improve nutrient-use efficiency while maintaining soil fertility and agricultural productivity.

Natural farming expands to 11.44 lakh hectares

The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) was approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2024.

The programme promotes chemical-free, nature-based agricultural practices using inputs produced on farms.

So far, 23.13 lakh farmers have registered under the mission, covering 11.44 lakh hectares.

The government is also promoting alternatives such as bio-inputs and organic farming as part of its broader strategy to reduce excessive dependence on chemical inputs.

Integrated pest management promoted

India has been promoting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as a core principle of plant protection since 1985.

IPM combines cultural, mechanical and biological methods with need-based chemical intervention, rather than relying primarily on pesticides.

The Integrated Pest Management-cum-Locust Division under the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage operates through 48 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres and Locust-cum-CIPMCs across 28 States and two Union Territories.

Farmers receive training through Farmer Field Schools, human-resource development programmes and awareness initiatives focused on the safe and judicious use of pesticides.

Khet Bachao campaign reaches 1.36 crore farmers

During the current Kharif 2026 season, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and ICAR conducted a special awareness campaign, including the Khet Bachao Abhiyan, focused on balanced fertiliser use.

The campaign has conducted 2,94,554 programmes, reaching 1,36,73,465 farmers.

Farmers were also provided information on natural and organic farming, bio-inputs and alternative fertilisers.

Organic farming expands across India

The government’s Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), implemented since 2015–16, provides end-to-end support for organic farming, covering production, processing, certification and marketing.

So far, the programme has brought 18.93 lakh hectares under organic farming and benefited 33.63 lakh farmers.

A separate programme, the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), is supporting organic agriculture in the North-Eastern States.

Under MOVCDNER, 2.36 lakh hectares have been brought under organic farming, benefiting 2.74 lakh farmers.

Organic manure use rises sharply

The government is also promoting Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) and Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM) as soil organic carbon enhancers and as part of more balanced nutrient management.

Annual consumption of FOM/LFOM stood at 3.36 lakh tonnes in 2024–25.

During the current Kharif season, from April 1 to July 16, 2026, consumption had already reached 11.86 lakh tonnes.

Focus on reducing excessive herbicide use

ICAR’s Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, is working on sustainable Integrated Weed Management (IWM) to encourage more judicious use of herbicides.

The programme combines research, field demonstrations, farmer training and extension activities.

ICAR is also monitoring herbicide residues in soil and the food chain and using the findings to develop crop-management recommendations.

Scientific advisories are disseminated through mobile services, social media, printed material and village-level extension programmes.

Why soil health matters to food and hospitality

Soil health is ultimately connected to the resilience of the food supply chain.

Healthy and productive agricultural land supports the long-term production of grains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables and other ingredients that feed households and supply hotels, restaurants, caterers and food manufacturers.

For the hospitality sector, the expansion of organic and natural farming could also strengthen demand for sustainably produced and traceable ingredients.

Hotels and restaurants increasingly use sustainability, local sourcing and farm-to-table practices as part of their food offerings. A larger domestic ecosystem of organic and naturally produced food could support these procurement models over time.

Implications for travel and tourism

The measures also have potential relevance to agri-tourism, rural tourism and culinary tourism.

Organic farms, traditional farming practices and local food production can become part of destination-based visitor experiences, particularly in regions where agriculture is closely tied to local cuisine and cultural identity.

For the North-East, the expansion of organic value chains could complement efforts to showcase regional produce and culinary traditions to visitors.

Building a sustainable food ecosystem

The government’s soil-health strategy goes beyond reducing fertiliser or herbicide use. It combines soil testing, natural farming, organic agriculture, integrated pest management, organic inputs and scientific weed management.

For India’s food and hospitality industries, the long-term significance is the potential creation of a more resilient agricultural base capable of supplying ingredients while responding to growing demand for sustainable, locally sourced and environmentally responsible food.