Farmer’s Perception and Constraints Analysis in Usage of Soil Health Card: A Case study of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Soil health card (SHC) is the most ambitious scheme of Government of India launched in 2015, to correct the fertilizer imbalances across farmer’s fields. The present study was carried out in Andhra Pradesh to analyze the farmer’s perception regarding soil health card as well as to see the constraints faced by farmers and non-farm stakeholders for effective implementation of the scheme in the study area. Likert scale technique and Garrett ranking techniques were used for the analysis. Based on farmers perception it is evident that majority of the farmers are well aware of the scheme in the area and also perceive reduced fertilizer consumption in terms of macro nutrients which in turn has decreased their cost of cultivation and clear improvement in micronutrients application was evident as it was complemented to farmers along with SHC. But the certainty of yield and timely scientific guidance to farmers was missing and lack of timely availability of SHC was hindering the trust worthiness of farmers in the scheme and in extension officials. Difficulty in understanding the recommendations and lack of effective extension services to farmers were hindering the scheme progress. Institutional constraints in terms of lack of adequate infrastructure and trained technical staff hindered the rapid progress and adaptation of SHC scheme among all the farmers. Thus efforts should be focused to remove the institutional constraints to aid the farmers for better use of SHC via more participative training sessions.