1. Govt. of West Bengal Department of Agriculture
SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OF WEST BENGAL
Govt. of West Bengal
Department of Agriculture

3. Soil Health Management in West Bengal : Challenges--Historical & Environmental
Has 8% of India’s population with 2.7% of the total area,
Population Density (1029 per Sq. Km) puts tremendous pressure on land,
Marginal and small farmers constitute about 96% of the total farmers, ( census)
As on ,about 91.74% of the Cultivable Area of the State is under cultivation against a National average of %, putting huge pressure on natural resources.
75-80% of Total rainfall received during 04 rainy months, intensifying the threat of greater soil erosion,
The Cultivable Area of the State is lakh ha & Net Sown Area is lakh ha.
Total No. of Holding =71,23,000 & Average Holding size= ha.
Cropping Intensity( )=181.73%. 3

4. Possible thrust Areas for better Soil Health Management
A. From the published data of Cost of Cultivation of major crops, 1) Human Resource, 2) Nutrient &Fertilizer and 3) Irrigation cost are the first three weight carriers,
B. Due to increasing cost of Chemical fertilizers & reduced availability of organic manure, soil fertility imbalance is an identified menace in days to come.
C. Inclusion of “ Individual/Group of Farmer based Organic manure Production Centre” with a target of production of Vermi-compost/Compost/Green Leaf/Green manure/Biogas Slurry etc under Crop Demonstration Programme of all the at least 50% of the requirement of available nutrient for that crop to enrich the resource base of the farmers & Soil itself.
D. This will help to increase the resource base of resource poor farmers & sustainably decrease the cost of cultivation.
D. Nutrient management as per Soil Health card, 4

5. The present scenario of SHC generation in West Bengal :
Launched Web-based SHC generation in
Sent SMS alert to farmers as soon as SHC generated.
Till date almost 4.34 lakh SHC distributed to farmers.
48,294 no. SHC distributed to farmers in
27,000 no of SHC generated till August’14 in this financial year.

6. SOIL TESTING LABORATORIES IN W.B. :
22 no. of
SSTL
10 No.
run by Govt.
1 no. under PPP Mode
11 no.
run by Farmer Coop./NGO

7. 12 no. of
MSTL
8 no.
run by Govt.
3 no.
under PPP Mode
1 no.
run by IFFCO

8. SOIL FERTILITY MAP : 1 1 KM. GRID POINT BASIS
District wise Digital Nutrient Maps of 18 districts were prepared on 1 km grid pt. soil samples in Collaboration with NBSS & LUP.
Total 76,000 no. of samples collected from the whole State.
But later on it is observed from analysis data of soil samples under BGREI & NFSM that the fertility status as marked in the Map particularly in respect to micronutrients does not tally with the actual field condition fertility status. Perhaps this is may be due to low volume of soil analysis data.

9. SOIL FERTILITY MAP : ON GOING PROJECT (RKVY) (MOUZA WISE DIGITAL DISTRICT MAP) SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN INTENSIVE CROPPING SEQUENCE DISTRICTS OF W.B. THROUGH SHC GENERATION

10. OBJECTIVE
1. Web based SHC generation of at least 20 no. of farmers of each mouza of Hooghly district on the basis of analysis data of GPS based collected soil samples.
2. Distribution of SHC to the maximum farmers of that district.
3. Preparation of GPS based Mouza wise Digital District Soil Fertility Map of Hooghly district. This will be the pioneer work in preparation of Mouza wise fertility map , not only in the State , but perhaps in the country.
4. Monitoring of soil health management of Hoogly district

11. SOIL SAMPLE COLLECTION protocol @ 5 no
SOIL SAMPLE COLLECTION 5 no. Samples from each quadrant aggregating 20 no. of samples from each mouza
MODUS OPERANDI
2nd quadrant
1st quadrant
MOUZA
3rd quadrant
4th quadrant

12. Soil health management programs in west Bengal
PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO DAC, GOI
National Mission For Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)   SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT ANNUAL ACTION PLAN SUBMITTED TO DAC, GOI Name of the State : West Bengal Financial Year : Nodal Department : Department of Agriculture Implementing Agency : Department of Agriculture/ Govt Undertaking / NGO Research/Technical : Research Wing of the Agriculture support Institution Directorate/SAUs/ICAR Institute /GOI Institute

13. Soil Health Management (SHM)
Component
Activity
Area in ha/ Number of units proposed
Estimated Cost
(Rs. In lakh)
Assistance sought from DAC
Chapter II/A : SOIL HEALTH COMPONENTS
A/1
Setting up of new Static Soil Testing Laboratory (SSTL) / Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory (MSTL)
Setting up of new Static Soil Testing Laboratory (SSTL) under PPP Mode 12
902.16
672.00
ii) Setting up of new Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory (MSTL) under PPP Mode 25
A/2
Strengthening of existing SSTL 10
400.00
300.00
A/3
Training and Demonstration on Soil Health Management
i) Training of STL/FCL staffs/Extension Officers 4
1.00
ii) Two days training programme for farmers
1675
167.50
A/6
Creation of District wise Digital Soil Fertility Maps
3 districts
18.00
A/7
Providing Portable Soil Testing Kits to Field Level Officers of State Govt.
335 no.
50.25
A/9
Strengthening of Fertilizer Quality Testing Laboratory (FTL) System:
Strengthening of existing Fertilizer Quality Testing Laboratory (FTL)
3 no.
90.00
Setting up of new Fertilizer Quality Control laboratory by State Govt.
1 no.
92.68
75.00
Sub-Total for A
3,421.59
2,648.75

14. Area in ha/ Number of units proposed Estimated Cost (Rs. In lakh)
Component
Activity
Area in ha/ Number of units proposed
Estimated Cost
(Rs. In lakh)
Assistance sought from DAC
Chapter II / B: Organic & INM Components
B/1
Setting up of mechanized Fruit/Vegetable market waste/Agro waste compost production unit
6 no.
B/2
Setting up of State of art liquid/carrier based Biofertiliser units
1 no.
177.28
160.00
B/3
Setting up of Biofertiliser and Organic Fertilizer Testing Quality Control Laboratory (BOQCL) 2
202.00
170.00
B/4
Promotion of Organic Inputs on farmers’ field (Vermicompost/Biofertiliser)
800 ha
80.00
B/5
Adoption of Organic Farming through Cluster Approach under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Certification
30 Clusters + 30 no. FFD
(each cluster having 100 ha)
603.00
B/6
Support to PGS System for online data management and Residue Analysis
30 groups /clusters In 3 no. Regional Councils (RC) including residue analysis of 30 no. samples
6.00
B/7
Organic Village Adoption for Management of Biological Nitrogen Harvesting
10 villages & 10 no. FLDs
102.00
B/8
Training and Demonstration on Organic farming
30 no. training of Stakeholders of Organic Farmings &
600 no. farmers trainings
19.5
Sub-Total for B
2,329.78
2,280.50
Total (A+B)
5,751.37
4,929.25
(Rs. In Crore) 5%
2.4646
Grand Total

15. ALLOCATION FROM DAC, GOI FOR 2014-15
Component
Activity
Area in ha/ Number of units proposed
Estimated Cost
(Rs. In lakh)
APPROVED BY DAC
Chapter II/A : SOIL HEALTH COMPONENTS
A/1
Setting up of new Static Soil Testing Laboratory (SSTL) / Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory (MSTL)
Setting up of new Static Soil Testing Laboratory (SSTL) under PPP Mode 1
75.00
56.00
A/2
Strengthening of existing SSTL
40.00
30.00
A/3
Training and Demonstration on Soil Health Management
i) Training of STL/FCL staffs/Extension Officers 10
2.50
ii) Two days training programme for farmers 50
5.00
III) Front line Demonstration
2.00
A/6
Creation of District wise Digital Soil Fertility Maps
5 districts
A/7
Providing Portable Soil Testing Kits to Field Level Officers of State Govt.
200 no.
A/9
Strengthening of Fertilizer Quality Testing Laboratory (FTL) :
Strengthening of existing Fertilizer Quality Testing Laboratory (FTL)
1no.
Setting up of new Fertilizer Quality Control laboratory by State Govt.
1 no.
Sub-Total for A
324.50
295.50

16. Chapter II / B: Organic & INM Components
Activity
Area in ha/ Number of units proposed
Estimated Cost
(Rs. In lakh)
Assistance sought from DAC
Chapter II / B: Organic & INM Components
B/1
Setting up of mechanized Fruit/Vegetable market waste/Agro waste compost production unit
1 no. for individual/private
190.00
63.00
B/2
Setting up of State of art liquid/carrier based Biofertiliser units
160.00
40.00
B/3
Setting up of Biofertiliser and Organic Fertilizer Testing Quality Control Laboratory (BOQCL) 1
85.00
B/4
Promotion of Organic Inputs on farmers’ field (Vermicompost/Biofertiliser)
1000 ha
50.00
B/5
Adoption of Organic Farming through Cluster Approach under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Certification
67.00
B/6
Support to PGS System for online data management and Residue Analysis
1 Regional Council
1.00
B/7
Organic Village Adoption for Management of Biological Nitrogen Harvesting
1 Village
10.00
B/8
Training and Demonstration on Organic farming
10 no.
2.00
Sub-Total for B
565.00
318.00
Total (A+B)
889.00
613.50

17. FUTURE PROGRAMS IN SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT UNDER NMSA
Creation of additional STL, MSTL, Fertiliser Quality Control Lab, and Biofertiliser Quality Control Lab. Under NMSA and RKVY project in the coming years
Creation of Digital District Map of 5 districts under NMSA Project during and onwards.
Capacity building of the of the farmers, STL staffs/Extension functionaries regarding SHM

18. To provide SHM support to the farmers of remote areas through SOIL TESTING KIT
Strengthening the quality control of fertilizer through strengthening if existing FQCL and creation of new one also so that farmers of the State get quality fertiliser both chemical and organic.
To set up new Agro Waste Compost Production Unit as step to produce more organic input in the state which will help to maintain soil fertility.

19. To increase Biofertiliser production through setting up Biofertiliser production unit under PPP mode which is urgently neede to promote Organic Farming.
To promote Organic farming in the State through Cluster approach under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Certification
To promote capacity building of the farmers as well as the extension staffs to increase the area under Organic Farming.

20. ISSUES 1.
TO PROVIDE LANDHOLDING WISE SHC IN IRRIGATED AREAS 2.
To establish STL in 50,000 acres of landholding under irrigated areas. 3.
To establish STL in 1.5 lakh acres of landholding under un-irrigated areas.

21. 4.
To increase the area under organic farming 5.
To improve the infrastructure for production of quality organic inputs. 6.
To promote awareness and capacity building of the farmers for Soil Health Management through INM approach.

22. PROBLEMS
1. To establish STL in 0.5 lakh holding in irrigated areas requires deployment of large no. Manpower which is a problem on the part of State Govt.
2. In West Bengal, NGO/Private Agencies are reluctant to establish STL under PPP mode as it is not profit oriented due to small & marginal farmer centric State.
3. Collection of soil samples in a scientific process need trained & skilled labours which is not available at village level.

23. 4. There is a problem in. getting good quality
4. There is a problem in getting good quality organic inputs at farmer level.
5. Farmers in some areas under highly intensive cropping sequence particularly potato growing areas are habituated to apply excessive chemical fertilizer , resulting in deterioration of Soil Health.
6. Farmers are reluctant to adopt Organic farming due to marketing problem of their produce.

24. SUGGESTIONS 1.
There should be provision in Central Sector Scheme to provide subsidy to the Laboratories under PPP Mode for routine Rs.100/- & Rs.150/- for micronutrient analysis, 2.
There should be provision in central sector scheme to provide a Rs.20/- per sample for collection of GPS based soil sample & to despatch it to lab. Then collection of samples may be outsourced. 3.
The State run STL at district head quarter will have to act as Nodal Agency in monitoring the STL run by NGO/Private Agencies operating in any district. So there is a need of a Legislation/ Act from Govt. of India.

25. Thank You