Farmers' Utilization of Soil Health Card Recommendations and Associated Profile Characteristics: An Empirical Investigation

Abstract

The Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme was introduced by the Government of India to promote balanced nutrient management and sustainable agricultural production through soil-test-based fertiliser recommendations. Despite its widespread implementation, the extent to which farmers utilise these recommendations remains a critical concern. This study assessed the utilisation of SHC recommendations among farmers in Cuttack district, Odisha, and examined the association between farmers' profile characteristics and their utilisation behaviour. An ex-post facto research design was adopted, and data were collected from 160 SHC beneficiary farmers using a structured interview schedule. The findings revealed that most farmers exhibited a moderate level of utilisation of SHC recommendations. Utilisation was positively associated with factors such as education, annual income, landholding, extension contact, mass media exposure, scientific orientation, cropping pattern, innovativeness, and fertiliser use behaviour, whereas age and farming experience showed no significant associations. Extension contact, annual income, and innovativeness emerged as the major variables associated with SHC recommendation utilisation in the regression analysis. The findings highlight the role of extension services and farmer capacity-building in supporting the effective use of soil health information. Strengthening extension outreach, improving access to scientific information, and promoting farmer-oriented training programmes may improve SHC utilisation and support sustainable nutrient management, soil health, and resilient agricultural systems.