Appraisal of Soil Health Card Scheme on Change in Cultivation Practices of Sali Rice in Darrang District, Assam

Abstract

The study was conducted during 2017-18 to examine the changes observed in cultivation practices of Sali rice after receiving Soil Health Card (SHC) and for identifying the problems faced by respondents in utilising the SHC recommendations in Darrang district, Assam. A sample of 150 respondents was selected randomly by proportional allocation to size. The result showed that 74.66 per cent of the respondent did not apply the fertilizers as per SHC recommendation. For examining average change in terms of fertilizer application pattern, area and productivity of Sali rice intended for before and after getting SHC, no significant changes have been observed using student’s t-test at 5% level of significance. Increased in area under Sali rice was not significantly higher than before SHC was distributed. The distribution of SHC didn’t bring any changes in cultivation practices of sali rice during 2017-18 at Darrang district.Thus; the study has suggested providing extension support to farmers. Credit linkage through Kisan Credit Card will be helpful in increasing the production of rice and then market linkage may be established. For getting the better result it is necessary to link all the schemes with each other instead of implementing each scheme independently.