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India Boosts Climate-Resilient Farming with Soil Health Focus

India's National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture has released Rs 2,119.84 crore for Rainfed Area Development since 2014-15, covering 8.50 lakh hectares. The Per Drop More Crop scheme has covered 109 lakh hectares with Rs 26,325 crore in central assistance. Over 25.79 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated, and an NITI Aayog evaluation shows 68.5% of farmers reported significant soil health improvement. Additionally, 2,996 climate-resilient crop varieties were released between 2014 and 2025 under the National Agricultural Research System.

Key Points: India Doubles Down on Climate-Resilient Farming

  • Rs 2,119.84 crore released for Rainfed Area Development covering 8.50 lakh hectares
  • 109 lakh hectares covered under Per Drop More Crop scheme with Rs 26,325 crore assistance
  • 25.79 crore Soil Health Cards generated since 2015
  • 2,996 climate-resilient crop varieties released between 2014-2025
2 min read

India doubles down on building climate-resilient farming, boosting soil health

India's National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture covers 109 lakh hectares, tests 92.87 lakh soil samples, and releases 2,996 climate-resilient crop varieties.

"68.5 per cent of surveyed farmers reported a significant improvement in soil health following the adoption of recommended practices - NITI Aayog evaluation"

New Delhi, May 9

The government launched the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture in 2014-15 and since then, Rs 2,119.84 crore has been released under Rainfed Area Development, covering 8.50 lakh hectares and benefiting 14.35 lakh farmers through Integrated Farming System, an official fact-sheet said on Saturday.

Implemented since 2015-16, about 109 lakh hectares have been covered under the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme with Rs 26,325 crore released as central assistance.

Under the Soil Health Management, 97.53 lakh soil samples were collected and 92.87 lakh tested in 2025-26, while 25.79 crore Soil Health Card have been generated since 2015 to guide balanced nutrient management.

Launched in 2015, the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme serves as the principal farmer advisory instrument under the NMSA. These cards provide crop-specific nutrient recommendations, enabling farmers to rationalise fertiliser use and enhance soil health.

An evaluation conducted by NITI Aayog in 2025 indicates that the scheme has contributed to correcting nutrient imbalances, particularly by reducing excessive urea use, and has led to improvements in agricultural productivity.

It has also supported the broader objectives of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM). Notably, 68.5 per cent of surveyed farmers reported a significant improvement in soil health following the adoption of recommended practices, while 25.7 per cent observed marginal improvements.

Between 2014 and 2025, 2,996 climate-resilient crop varieties were released under the National Agricultural Research System, the fact-sheet informed.

The NMSA was envisaged as a strategic intervention to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate variability on agriculture while ensuring long-term food and livelihood security.

Subsequently, from 2018-19, NMSA was operationalized as a sub-mission within the Umbrella Scheme of the "Green Revolution-Krishonnati Yojana".

Further institutional restructuring from 2022-23 resulted in its inclusion under the umbrella of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY), reflecting a consolidated approach to sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural development, informed the official statement.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

M
Michael C
Interesting numbers, but I wonder about the actual impact per farmer. 14.35 lakh beneficiaries over a decade sounds impressive until you consider India has over 150 million farmers. The per-drop-more-crop scheme covering 109 lakh hectares is good, but it's less than 8% of total irrigated area. We need much more aggressive scaling and better monitoring - NITI Aayog's evaluation showing 68.5% improvement is encouraging, but how many farmers are actually adopting the recommendations?
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Priya S
Living in a farming community in Punjab, I see the change firsthand. The soil testing camps have become quite popular, and farmers are genuinely reducing urea use since getting those cards. But the real challenge is making climate-resilient crop varieties accessible to small and marginal farmers - the 2,996 varieties released sound impressive, but distribution networks are patchy. Still, credit where it's due - this is a step in the right direction! 🌾
D
David E
The 25.79 crore Soil Health Cards generated since 2015 is genuinely impressive infrastructure. But Rs 2,119.84 crore for Rainfed Area Development spread over a decade works out to about Rs 212 crore per year - that seems modest for covering 8.5 lakh hectares. Climate adaptation is expensive, but India needs to significantly increase investment if we're serious about protecting 125 million+ farming families from climate shocks.
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Vikram M
My relative in Tamil Nadu got his soil tested last year and was shocked to learn his potassium levels were dangerously low - he'd been over-applying nitrogen for years. The Soil Health Card recommendation saved him 35% on fertiliser costs. This is real, tangible benefit. But here's the respectful criticism: the scheme's success depends hugely on timely renewal of soil tests every 3 years, and many farmers don't get follow-up cards. Let's fix that! 💪

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