A dedicated scheme on “Soil Health Card” has been launched to take care of Soil Health for the first time in a uniform manner to evaluate the soil fertility across the country by the GOI in cooperation with state governments Soil Health Card contains the status of soils with respect to 12 parameters, namely – N, P, K (Macro-nutrients), S (Secondary-nutrients), Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B (Micro-nutrients) and pH, EC, OC (Physical Parameters). It also provides crop wise fertiliser recommendations. Soil Health Card helps farmers to improve productivity by maintaining soil health. SHC also promotes the judicious use of the fertilisers thus reducing the cost of cultivation.
In all, 10.73 crore Soil Health Cards have been distributed during Cycle-I (2015-17) whereas 4.71 crore Soil Health Cards have been distributed to the farmers across the country during Cycle-II (2017-19).
A GPS based unified criteria for Collection of Soil Samples at a grid of 2.5 ha in irrigated and 10 ha in rainfed areas are being adopted throughout the country as per suggestion of ICAR.
To evaluate the extent of nutrient deficiencies in the soils, Soil Fertility Assessment and Nutrient Mapping is being done by the NRSC, Hyderabad, using soil health card data. Besides, based on soil test results available, nutrient maps are also being generated by the NIC which can be drilled down to the block / village and farmer level. Moreover, the ICAR through Indian Institute of Soil Science and All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) on Soil Test Crop Response (STCR), Micro- and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements (MSNP) in soils and Plants, Long Term Fertilizer Experiments (LTFE) and Network Project on Soil Biodiversity-Biofertilizers are providing technological backstopping to various schemes related to soil fertility and fertilizer use in the country including Maharashtra. The ICAR imparts training, organises Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) to educate farmers on soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources (FYM, compost, biofertilizers etc.) of plant nutrients to improve soil fertility.
A new scheme, “Soil Health Card” for every farmer at an interval of 2 years has been launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 19th February, 2015 with an aim to assist state government and union territory to provide Soil Health Cards for all farm holdings across the country.
Soil health card provides information to the farmers on fertility status of their soils to enables them to apply soil health card based recommended dosages of fertilizers including micro-nutrients, bio-fertilizers, manures as well as soil ameliorants so as to check the declining fertility of agriculture land and improve the fertility of soils to increase productivity across the country including Maharashtra besides enhancing farmers income.
Government is implementing Soil Health Management and Soil Health Card Scheme to improve soil health and fertility. Under these schemes financial assistance are provided to State Governments and not farmers directly. State-wise fund released for the last three years and current financial year is given at Annexure-I & II respectively.
A statement showing state-wise number of soil testing Centres are given at Annexure-III.
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Annexure-I
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State-wise Fund Released under Soil Health Management
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(Rs. In lakh)
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Sl. No
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State
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2015-16
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2016-17
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2017-18
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2018-19
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Total
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Released
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Released
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Released
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Released
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Released
|
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1
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Andhra Pr.
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289.05
|
652.21
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1221.80
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1393.06
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3556.12
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2
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Arunachal Pr.
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0.00
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51.14
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17.05
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0.00
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68.19
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3
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Assam
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102.33
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0.00
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138.38
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0.00
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240.71
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4
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Bihar
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151.88
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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151.88
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5
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Chhattisgarh
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225.00
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619.95
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124.25
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0.00
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969.20
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6
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Goa
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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7
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Gujarat
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0.00
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0.00
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338.76
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0.00
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338.76
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8
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Haryana
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0.00
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258.07
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450.00
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0.00
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708.07
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9
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Himachal Pr.
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90.60
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180.71
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56.30
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0.00
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327.61
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10
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J & K
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25.31
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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25.31
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11
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Jharkhand
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16.88
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337.13
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0.00
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0.00
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354.00
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12
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Karnataka
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292.50
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927.16
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432.36
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711.89
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2363.90
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13
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Kerala
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40.48
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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40.48
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14
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Madhya Pr.
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0.00
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3877.14
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0.00
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0.00
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3877.14
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15
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Maharashtra
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319.50
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1721.07
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0.00
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0.00
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2040.57
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16
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Manipur
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0.00
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0.00
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67.50
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0.00
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67.50
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17
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Meghalaya
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0.00
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41.57
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0.00
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0.00
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41.57
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18
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Mizoram
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0.00
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44.35
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0.00
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0.00
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44.35
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19
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Nagaland
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40.50
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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40.50
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20
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Odisha
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196.88
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0.00
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298.12
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114.75
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609.75
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21
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Punjab
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0.00
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0.00
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246.76
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11.25
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258.01
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22
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Rajasthan
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771.30
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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771.30
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23
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Sikkim
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15.00
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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15.00
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24
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Tamil Nadu
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305.76
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60.00
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0.00
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250.13
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615.89
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25
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Telengana
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167.50
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441.00
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802.05
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0.00
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1410.55
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26
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Tripura
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28.40
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288.74
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0.00
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0.00
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317.14
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27
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Uttar Pr.
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838.13
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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838.13
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28
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Uttarakhand
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19.75
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0.00
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24.75
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48.46
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92.96
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29
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West Bengal
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478.13
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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478.13
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30
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Puducherry
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0.00
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50.00
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0.00
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0.00
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50.00
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31
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FACT Kochi
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24.02
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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24.02
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Total
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4438.89
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9550.22
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4218.07
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2529.54
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20736.72
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Annexure-II
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State-wise fund released under Soil Health Card Scheme
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(Rs. In lakh)
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Sl. No
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State
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2015-16
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2016-17
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2017-18
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2018-19
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Total
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Released
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Released
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Released
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Released
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Released
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1
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Andhra Pra.
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457.75
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1394.47
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1225.67
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672.98
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3750.87
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2
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Arunachal Pr.
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17.18
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37.37
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20.79
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49.40
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124.74
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3
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Assam
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142.07
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365.03
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0.00
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0.00
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507.10
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4
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Bihar
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488.17
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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488.17
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5
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Chhattisgarh
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281.03
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342.72
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888.12
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350.05
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1861.91
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6
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Goa
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12.42
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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12.42
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7
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Gujarat
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603.46
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528.69
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1990.36
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0.00
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3122.51
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8
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Haryana
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288.22
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0.00
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1065.05
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800.23
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2153.50
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9
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Himachal Pr.
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47.34
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29.42
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136.34
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113.09
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326.19
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10
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J & K
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77.16
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0.00
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0.00
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246.54
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323.70
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11
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Jharkhand
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53.97
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64.18
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0.00
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0.00
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118.15
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12
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Karnataka
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650.25
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1029.80
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1135.63
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835.33
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3651.01
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13
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Kerala
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60.93
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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60.93
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14
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Madhya Pr.
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888.05
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1373.54
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2669.47
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2097.56
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7028.62
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15
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Maharashtra
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932.30
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1910.73
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1066.77
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1560.21
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5470.01
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16
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Manipur
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17.58
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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17.58
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17
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Meghalaya
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20.60
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0.00
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40.26
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30.48
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91.34
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18
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Mizoram
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13.79
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6.15
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12.25
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17.48
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49.67
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19
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Nagaland
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22.46
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17.55
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0.00
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40.03
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80.04
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20
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Odisha
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269.89
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304.48
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451.33
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341.96
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1367.66
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21
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Punjab
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304.98
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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304.98
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22
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Rajasthan
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875.79
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1108.29
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0.00
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2109.67
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4093.75
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23
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Sikkim
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11.81
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0.00
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13.51
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66.35
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91.67
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24
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Tamil Nadu
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469.51
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644.92
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868.91
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964.64
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2947.98
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25
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Telengana
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352.92
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468.25
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705.39
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0.00
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1526.56
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26
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Tripura
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22.71
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59.21
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33.48
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26.42
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141.82
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27
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Uttar Pr.
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1716.42
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2442.05
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2256.36
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2319.31
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8734.13
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28
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Uttarakhand
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65.19
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144.70
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92.54
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163.85
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466.27
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29
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West Bengal
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480.12
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1094.96
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591.01
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637.18
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2803.27
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30
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Puducherry
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0.00
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0.00
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13.64
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0.00
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13.64
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31
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A&N Island
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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5.78
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5.78
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|
32
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D&N Haveli
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0.00
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0.00
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0.00
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6.26
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6.26
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Total
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9644.07
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13366.49
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15276.87
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13454.78
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51742.20
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Annexure-III
Statement of State-wise number of Soil Testing Labs
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Sl. No
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State
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Number of STLs
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1
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Andhra Pradesh
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97
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2
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Karnataka
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71
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3
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Kerala
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28
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4
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Tamil Nadu
|
50
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5
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Puducherry
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2
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6.
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A & N Islands
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1
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|
7.
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Telangana
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3
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|
8
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Gujarat
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141
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9.
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Madhya Pradesh
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338
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10
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Maharashtra
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206
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|
11
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Rajasthan
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114
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12.
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Chhattisgarh
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33
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13
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Goa
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4
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|
14
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Haryana
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41
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|
15
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Punjab
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71
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|
16
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Uttarakhand
|
16
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|
17
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Uttar Pradesh
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291
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|
18
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Himachal Pradesh
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21
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|
19
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Jammu & Kashmir
|
24
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|
20.
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Delhi
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1
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|
21.
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Bihar
|
45
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|
22.
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Jharkhand
|
8
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|
23
|
Orissa
|
33
|
|
24.
|
West Bengal
|
36
|
|
25.
|
Assam
|
15
|
|
26.
|
Tripura
|
10
|
|
27.
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Manipur
|
8
|
|
28.
|
Meghalaya
|
6
|
|
29.
|
Nagaland
|
4
|
|
30.
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
8
|
|
31.
|
Sikkim
|
6
|
|
32.
|
Mizoram
|
6
|
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Total
|
1738
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This Information was given by the Minister of State for Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
*****
APS/RCS