About this agriculture scheme
The scheme aims to provide easy and affordable access to soil testing facilities at the village level and support rural youth through financial assistance of Rs. 1,50,000/- for establishing Village Level Soil Testing Labs.
The "RKVY Soil Health and Fertility Village Level Soil Testing Lab" scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to provide easy access to soil testing facilities and affordable soil testing services to farmers at the grassroots level. Under the scheme, eligible rural youth and community-based institutions can establish Village Level Soil Testing Labs (VLSTLs) with a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 1,50,000/-. The labs provide timely and accurate soil analysis, customized nutrient recommendations, and promote awareness regarding soil health. The scheme also supports local data collection, strengthens soil testing infrastructure, and generates employment opportunities in rural areas. Financial assistance is released through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode by the State Government.
Benefits at a glance
| Scheme name | RKVY Soil Health and Fertility Village level Soil Testing Lab (RKVYSHFVLSTL) |
|---|---|
| Launched by | Ministry Of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare |
| Department | Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare |
| Launch year | 2015 |
| Benefit type | Cash (money paid to your bank account) |
| Category | Agriculture |
| Level / State | Central · All India |
| Official portal | agriwelfare.gov.in (link at the end of this page) |
Key facts
| Scheme type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
|---|---|
| Implementing agency | State Government Department |
| Scheme for | Individual |
| Application mode | Offline |
| Last date | Ongoing (no last date notified) |
| DBT (direct bank transfer) | No |
Who can apply (quick check)
- 👤All genders
- 🎂Age 18 to 27 years
- 🏘️Rural
- 📝Offline
Quick check from official data. Full conditions are in the Eligibility section.
What you receive
- One-Time Financial Assistance: Financial assistance of Rs. 1,50,000/- is provided for establishing a Village Level Soil Testing Lab (VLSTL).
- Assistance for Soil Testing Equipment: Up to Rs. 1,00,000/- for soil testing equipment, reagents, sample shaker machine, and one-year Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC).
- Assistance for Laboratory Consumables: Up to Rs. 50,000/- for distilled water, pH meter, conductivity meter, electronic balance, glassware, filter papers, and other required consumables.
- Soil Testing Services: Provides affordable soil testing services to farmers at the village level.
- Soil Health Advisory: Facilitates customized soil nutrient recommendations based on soil test results.
- Agricultural Productivity Support: Helps farmers optimize fertilizer use and reduce input costs by avoiding under-application or over-application of fertilizers.
- Awareness Generation: Promotes awareness regarding soil health and the importance of soil testing among farmers.
- Employment Generation: Creates employment opportunities for rural youth through the operation of village-level laboratories.
- Soil Data Collection: Supports the collection of local soil data for studies, policy formulation, and region-specific agricultural interventions.
Who qualifies
- The Age of the applicant should be between 18 to 27 years
- The Educational Qualification of the applicant should be 10th pass with science and knowledge of computer
- The applicant / entrepreneur group should have their own premises / rented building with lease agreement for atleast four years.
Who is not eligible
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Papers to keep ready
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Registration walkthrough
Offline
Step 1: Identification of individual beneficiary i.e. village level young entrepreneur and community based beneficiaries i.e., PACS, SHGs, School, Agriculture University, etc., in a transparent and time-bound manner.
Step 2: Identification of premises for establishment of VLSTL.
Step 3: Verification of proof of procure land equipment / inputs.
Step 4: SLEC will finalise the entrepreneur’s proposals received from the District Level Executive Committee (DLEC). The entire procedure will take maximum one month.
Step 5: State government will release financial assistance to entrepreneurs within a week after approval of application.
Step 6: Entrepreneurs after receiving fund will submit receipts of procurement of lab equipment, consumables, etc. to DLEC within 15 days.
Important dates
| Launch / start | 01 Jan 2015 |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
Will necessary training be provided to entrepreneur after setting up VLSTL?
Yes, training programme will be organised by state government and manufacturer for beneficiary entrepreneur. Training will include topics such as how to collect sample using mobile application, sampling methodology, how to run tests, maintenance of machines, how to use consumables, and how to generate Soil Health Cards using test results through SHC portal.
How will awareness be generated among farmers regarding SHC?
Entrepreneurs will be trained for awareness generation of farmers about fertiliser use and crop recommendation based on Soil health Card.
On what basis will VLSTL provide recommendations?
VLSTL will generate customised soil nutrient recommendations based on analysis results. By considering the specific nutrient requirements of different crops and the nutrient levels in the soil, these labs provide farmers with recommendations for fertiliser application.
Are there any additional incentives for certain genders, or certain caste/minority farmers?
No, the scheme treats all farmers as equal.
Can village level STLs be set up by SHGs?
Yes, VLSTLs can be set up by SHGs under The Rural Awareness Works Experience (RAWE) programme, Krishi Sakhis, students of government schools, and agriculture graduates from SAUs, PACS, etc. The labs should be operated by local youth.
Is there a minimum education requirement for the entrepreneur setting up the VLSTL?
Yes, the applicant should be 10th pass with science and knowledge of computer.
How much time will the approval from SLEC take?
SLEC will finalise the entrepreneur’s proposals received from the District Level Executive Committee (DLEC). The entire procedure will take maximum one month.
Post approval from SLEC, how much time will it take for release of funds?
State government will release financial assistance to entrepreneurs within a week after approval of application.
When should the entrepreneur submit bills/receipts of procurement?
Entrepreneurs after receiving fund will submit receipts of procurement of lab equipment, consumables, etc. to DLEC within 15 days.
Submit your application yourself on the official portal; it costs nothing. Treat anyone demanding money to "get you approved" as a scam.
- Website www.soilhealth.dac.gov.in
tsmpb.in is not affiliated with any government department. Apply only on the official portal and never pay anyone for an application.
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