Tag: dailyprompt-1862

Celebrating a Decade of Soil Health Cards

Daily writing prompt
Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.
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The Soil Health Card Scheme was introduced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 19th February, 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan. The scheme was launched to assist State Governments to issue soil health cards to all farmers in the country. Soil health card provides information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.

The Soil Health Card Portal (www.soilhealth.dac.gov.in) facilitates generation of Soil Health Cards for the benefit of farmers in uniform and standardized format across country in all major languages and 5 dialects.

The Soil Health Card contains status of the soil with respect to 12 parameters, namely N,P,K, S (Macro-nutrients); Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo (Micro – nutrients) ; and pH (Acidity or Basicity), EC (Electrical Conductivity) and OC (Organic Carbon).

Based on this, the card will also indicate fertilizer recommendations and soil amendment required for the farm. Soil Samples are taken generally two times in a year, after harvesting of Rabi and Kharif Crop respectively or when there is no standing crop in the field.

The Guideline of Village Level Soil Testing Labs (VLSTLs) was issued in June 2023. VLSTLs can be set up by individual entrepreneurs i.e. rural youth and community based entrepreneurs, including Self Help Groups (SHGs), Schools, Agriculture Universities etc. The beneficiary/village level entrepreneur should be a youth whose age should not be below 18 years and should not be more than 27 years. Self Help Groups, Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO) can also be enrolled as VLSTL.

As of February 2025, 665 Village-level Soil Testing Labs have been established in 17 States.

School Soil Health Programme

A pilot project on School Soil Health Programme has been undertaken by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in (DA&FW) collaboration with Department of School Education & Literacy (DSE&L), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Governments in 20 schools (10 Kendriya Vidyalaya & 10 Navodaya Vidyalaya) in rural areas. The aim is to make students aware about soil health for sustainable agriculture practices. 20 soil health labs were set up in these schools. Modules for students from class VI to XII and teachers were developed and disseminated. Under the programme, soil samples were collected by School Students and soil testing were also done by students and SHCs were generated Students also educated farmers about the recommendation of Soil health card for judicious use of fertilizer and crop recommendation.

As of 2024, 1020 schools are implementing the School Soil Health Programme, with 1000 soil testing labs set up and 125,972 students enrolled.

Soil Health Card scheme has been merged in Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme as one of its components under the name ‘Soil Health & Fertility’ from the year 2022-23.

Technological Advancements

SHC Mobile App–

To further ease the process of obtaining easy access to the Soil Health Card, the Government of India in 2023 made technological interventions in the New Soil Health Card Scheme. The Soil Health Card portal was revamped and integrated with a Geographic Information System (GIS) system so that all the test results are captured and seen on a map. To make the implementation/monitoring of the scheme smooth and to facilitate farmers an easy access to his soil health card, the mobile application has been made robust with the additional features such as:

  • Restrict the sample collection region for the Village Level Entrepreneur/Operator collecting the soil samples
  • Auto selection of the latitude and longitude of the location
  • Generation of a QR code to link with the sample and test results of all samples directly on the portal from the geo-mapped labs, without any manual intervention.

This application provides the graphical information of all over the India and also shows multiple layers State Boundary, District Boundary, Taluka Boundary, Panchayat Boundary and Cadastral Boundary.

The new system was rolled out in April 2023 and samples are now being collected through the mobile application. Soil Health Cards are now generated on this revamped portal.

For digitizing the Soil Health Cards, Web based work flow application Soil Health Card portal has been designed and developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC).

Conclusion

The Soil Health Card Scheme has transformed agricultural practices in India over the past decade. Since 2015, it has empowered farmers with crucial information on soil nutrient status and optimal fertilizer use, promoting sustainable farming and improved crop productivity. Initiatives like the School Soil Health Programme have expanded soil health awareness among students and local communities. With a robust mobile app, the process of obtaining a Soil Health Card has enhanced accessibility, efficiency, and transparency. As the scheme evolves, it continues to play a vital role in fostering sustainable agricultural development and safeguarding India’s soil health for future generations.

References:

Kindlty find the pdf file 

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Importance of High Impact Research Publications and How to Search Papers

Daily writing prompt
Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.
View all responses

High impact research publications are pivotal in advancing knowledge and shaping academic and industry landscapes. They serve as the cornerstone for disseminating breakthroughs, influencing policy decisions, and fostering collaborations across disciplines. Here’s a deeper look into their importance and a guide on how to effectively use the research search tool available on Track2Training:

Importance of High Impact Research Publications

  • Dissemination of Innovative Ideas:
    High impact publications are essential for sharing new methodologies, theories, and experimental results. They reach a broad audience, ensuring that innovative ideas are disseminated throughout the scientific community and beyond.
  • Academic and Professional Recognition:
    Publishing in high impact journals not only adds credibility to a researcher’s work but also enhances their academic reputation. It often plays a crucial role in securing funding, tenure, and professional opportunities.
  • Influence on Policy and Practice:
    Research that garners high impact tends to influence policy-making, industry practices, and future research directions. Its findings are frequently cited, guiding further studies and real-world applications.
  • Global Collaboration and Networking:
    High impact research often acts as a bridge for international collaboration. Researchers from various parts of the world can build on each other’s work, leading to collaborative projects that push the boundaries of knowledge.
  • Quality and Rigor:
    The rigorous peer-review process associated with high impact publications ensures that the research meets high standards of quality, reliability, and relevance. This process helps to validate findings and enhances the overall integrity of the research field.

How to Search Using the Track2Training Research Page

The Track2Training research page is a specialized tool designed to help users locate high-quality research publications efficiently. Here’s how to make the most out of it:

  1. Accessing the Search Interface:
    When you visit the research page, you’ll find a clean and intuitive interface. Typically, there is a prominent search bar that serves as the starting point for your inquiry.
  2. Keyword Search:
    • Input Specific Keywords:
      Begin by entering relevant keywords related to your research topic. Whether you’re interested in “machine learning,” “renewable energy,” or “clinical trials,” the search bar allows you to narrow down the vast repository of research papers.
    • Use Boolean Operators:
      For more precise results, you might combine keywords using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT). This helps in filtering out unrelated results and focusing on the core aspects of your research interest.
  3. Advanced Search Filters:
    • Publication Date:
      Narrow your search by specifying a range of publication years to access the most current research or historical perspectives.
    • Journal or Conference Name:
      If you are looking for publications from a particular journal or conference, use the filter options provided.
    • Research Area or Discipline:
      Many research search tools, including this one, allow filtering by specific research domains, which can help in locating niche or interdisciplinary studies.
  4. Reviewing Search Results:
    • Title and Abstract Review:
      Once the search results are displayed, scan through the titles and abstracts. This quick review can help you determine the relevance of each paper before diving into the full text.
    • Citation Information:
      High impact research is often indicated by a high number of citations. Look for citation counts or related metrics if available, as they can provide insights into the influence of the research.
  5. Accessing Full-Text and Additional Resources:
    • Link to Full Papers:
      Many search tools provide direct links to the full-text versions of the papers or to their respective publisher pages.
    • Reference Management:
      Some platforms also offer options to download citations in various formats (like BibTeX or EndNote), which can be very helpful when managing references for your own research.
  6. Staying Updated:
    Regularly revisiting the research page or setting up alerts (if the functionality is available) ensures that you remain updated on the latest high impact research publications in your field.

Final Thoughts

High impact research publications not only validate the credibility and relevance of academic work but also drive progress across multiple sectors. By leveraging specialized search tools like the one offered by Track2Training, researchers can efficiently navigate through vast databases, pinpoint the most influential studies, and build upon existing knowledge to foster further innovation.

This approach not only streamlines the research process but also ensures that the most pertinent and high-quality information is at your fingertips.