We Envisioned Bringing The Lab To The Farm To Clear up The Delay And Depletion, Main To The Growth Of Our Gadgets

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What if a farmer had a tool that measures soil well being in simply 5 minutes? With their distinctive choices and extra on the way in which, arising from an urge to improve the agriculture sector with cutting-edge tech, Rajul Patkar of Proximal Soilsens delves into the world of sustainable farming with EFY’s Nitisha Dubey. 

Q. Are you able to describe your merchandise and choices, highlighting their options and advantages? 

A. We now have developed two breakthrough gadgets: Nutrisense and TerraPort, to help farmers in making data-driven choices. Nutrisense measures soil nutrient ranges inside 5 minutes, offering fast insights for fertiliser software. TerraPort is a compact, 100-gram system geared up with a number of sensors that allow farmers to assemble discipline information and add it by way of cell for instant evaluation. Collectively, these instruments help extra exact soil administration, enhancing effectivity and sustainability in farming.

Q. What’s Soilsens’ uniqueness in terms of these gadgets?

A. Sustainable agriculture begins with wholesome soil—precision testing is step one towards smarter farming. However historically, soil testing requires sending samples to a lab, which takes weeks, delaying crucial interventions. One other problem is that extreme use of chemical fertilisers degrades 33 per cent of agricultural land yearly. We envisioned bringing the lab to the farm to resolve the delay and depletion, resulting in the event of our gadgets. Nutrisense is the world’s most compact soil testing system—just like a glucometer. It makes use of electrochemical sensor expertise with specialised sensor strips for pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and natural carbon. Farmers can simply put together a soil resolution, place a drop on the sensor, and obtain outcomes inside 5 minutes, as I stated earlier. This eliminates the necessity for expensive, cumbersome lab gear and lengthy testing durations. Past simply testing, Nutrisense additionally gives suggestions. Based mostly on the farmer’s crop—whether or not banana, sugarcane, or one other—the system generates a personalized soil well being report with steering on fertiliser software and finest farming practices.

Q. Has Soilsens filed any patents for its progressive agricultural applied sciences and options? 

A. Sure, we now have filed patents for Nutrisense in India, america, China, Australia, and Indonesia and are at present awaiting approvals. The primary patent report (FPR) has been acquired, however the ultimate course of will take time. Moreover, a patent for the soil moisture sensor developed on the Indian Institute of Know-how (IIT) Bombay has been granted, and we maintain an unique license for its use in our Web of Issues (IoT) system. We now have additionally filed a patent for our ‘IoT in a Field’ expertise, a compact 100-150 gram system designed for agricultural IoT functions. All crucial filings have been accomplished, and we’re awaiting official affirmation.

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Q. How are you selling soil testing consciousness and adoption amongst farmers? 

A. Farmers want to grasp the significance of soil testing and why it’s important for enhancing productiveness and sustainability. We’re collaborating with implementation companions to facilitate this transition. Our purchasers embrace farmer-producer organisations (FPOs), self-help teams, agricultural enterprises, rural youth, agri-tech startups, and fertiliser corporations. These organisations assist present soil testing as a service to farmers, making certain widespread adoption and consciousness. By working with these companions, we goal to make soil testing extra accessible, dependable, and impactful on the grassroots stage.

Q. How do you educate farmers about soil testing and expertise?

A. Step one is elevating consciousness, as altering farmers’ mindsets might be difficult. Our companions, already engaged with farmers, conduct on-line and offline consciousness camps. We go to farms, prepare farmers, and emphasise the significance of soil testing. Moreover, we attain out to high school college students from farming households, introducing them to soil science and expertise to encourage their mother and father to undertake fashionable methods. You see, they’re the way forward for agriculture. A pilot initiative in a single college confirmed constructive outcomes, and we now plan to develop to rural colleges by means of collaborations with foundations. To help this, we now have developed a ‘Know Your Soil’ package for soil monitoring in colleges.

Q. The place is your headquarters, and the place is your manufacturing facility?

A. We’re headquartered in Pune, India. Our manufacturing is in-house, specializing in sensor modifications and mental property-related processes. Nevertheless, some parts, like printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication, are outsourced.

Q. Are you repeatedly growing new merchandise? 

A. Sure, we’re a analysis and growth (R&D)-focused organisation. Our Nutrisense product measures six soil parameters already. We’re actively engaged on including extra sensors, together with zinc and magnesium. Moreover, we plan to increase our expertise to irrigation water high quality testing and leaf evaluation [plant tissue observation (PTO) analysis]. Our pipeline is lengthy, and these merchandise are set to be launched within the subsequent one or two years.

Q. What have been the hurdles that you simply encountered whereas growing and commercialising soil testing expertise? 

A. Product growth comes with technical and implementation challenges. In 2011, we explored micro-electromechanical techniques (MEMS) and microfluidic applied sciences for a compact soil testing system. Whereas we constructed a prototype, large-scale fabrication in India was unimaginable, making it expensive and depending on overseas services. Searching for an reasonably priced, made-in-India resolution, we pivoted to a chemical-free mannequin, however accuracy was inadequate. Consultants suggested chemical-based testing, so in 2015, we developed paper-based electrochemical sensors, which at the moment are being commercialised. Equally, we constructed an IoT-based soil moisture system however discovered it too costly and impractical for small Indian farms. A single fastened sensor couldn’t handle soil variations. To unravel this, we innovated TerraPort, making information assortment reasonably priced and accessible. Overcoming a number of technological hurdles, we refined options to make sure affordability, accuracy, and scalability, demonstrating how innovation evolves by means of persistent problem-solving.

Q. What number of models of Nutrisense have you ever bought to date? 

A. Nutrisense is a comparatively new product. During the last two years, we now have bought roughly 180 to 200 models. It’s already current in eight international locations and has been deployed throughout 12 states in India over the past two years. 

Q. Are you on the lookout for distributors or companions to collaborate and develop your choices? 

A. I’m at all times on the lookout for new partnerships to develop our attain. For instance, one among our companions is enthusiastic about introducing TerraStation to pomegranate and grape farmers. I strongly imagine in collaboration and like working with companions who may also help convey our options to the proper agricultural communities.