On the occasion of World Soil Day, a pioneering initiative in Indian agriculture marked a significant milestone with the launch of an advanced Soil Health Card (SHC) program under the IBM-IORF Sustainability Project. In collaboration with Nadia Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kolkata, Inhana Organic Research Foundation (IORF), Kolkata, has developed and initiated the distribution of India’s first-of-its-kind soil health cards featuring a comprehensive analysis of 25 Soil Quality Parameters – placing special emphasis on Soil Biological Health.
This initiative stems from the ongoing Clean Food Movement, launched in June 2020 by IORF in partnership with Nadia KVK at Haringhata Block, Nadia District, West Bengal. The project promotes pesticide-free, climate-smart agriculture for small and marginal farmers through the adoption of Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) – a comprehensive & scientific approach to organic farming. The model has been recognized as one of the first scalable, safe, and sustainable agriculture frameworks in the country.
Recognizing the project’s relevance, IBM extended its support, transforming the initiative into one of India’s largest pesticide-free food production clusters – covering over 100 hectares and involving more than 350 small and marginal farmers with a production goal of 1,600-2,000 tons of clean vegetables. As part of this broader sustainability agenda, the Soil Health Card initiative was launched with the goal of mapping soil resources at a micro level and empowering farmers with precise knowledge about their soil. Soil sampling was conducted on a highly detailed grid of 0.26 hectares – significantly higher in resolution than the conventional 2.5 hectare grid used in standard soil testing protocols. Each farmer receives a personalized Soil Health Card based on in-depth laboratory analysis. The report includes 25 key parameters, with a strong focus on biological indicators that determine soil vitality and ecological balance. To aid interpretation, three composite indices – Physical Index (PI), Fertility Index (FI), and Microbiological Activity Profile (MAP) – are provided, along with an overall Soil Quality Index (SQI). Additionally, a user-friendly color-coded system has been incorporated to help farmers easily understand the status of their soil’s health. This marks the first time in India that such an exhaustive and scientific soil quality evaluation – particularly centered on microbial health has been undertaken and linked directly to sustainable crop production strategies. A pilot Soil Health Proximity Model was also applied to correlate detailed test results with standard grid data for enhanced interpretation.
Through this initiative, the IBM-IORF Soil Health Card is set to become a transformative tool for Indian agriculture – empowering farmers to “Know Your Soil” and take informed decisions that enhance productivity while preserving ecological balance.
