Saturday, March 29, 2025
SOIL YATRA 2025 BEGINS; INDIA’S FIRST MOBILE SOIL TESTING VAN FLAGGED OFF BY PUNJAB GOVERNOR
LUDHIANA, MAY 29, 2025:
In a historic move for sustainable agriculture and rural empowerment, India’s first Mobile Soil Testing Van — part of the pioneering #SoilYatra2025 — was officially flagged off today by the Governor of Punjab Shri Gulab Chand Kataria from the Raj Bhavan. This initiative, led by GreenAffair Sustainable Solutions Pvt Ltd, a Punjab Agricultural University (PAU)-PABI-supported startup, marks a significant leap toward data-driven, regenerative farming practices.
The Soil Yatra is a woman-led, science-backed movement aimed at revolutionizing soil health diagnostics across rural India. Equipped with cutting-edge soil testing technologies and a digital interface for real-time analysis, the van will travel across 18,000+ villages in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, promoting soil literacy, sustainable inputs, and precision agriculture.
Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, praised the initiative, stating, “This is not just a vehicle—it is a mobile revolution bringing science to the soil. It’s the kind of innovation that can transform how farmers manage their land, increase productivity, and reduce dependency on harmful chemicals.”
Dr TS Riar, Principal Investigator at PABI-PAU, and Dr Poonam A. Sachdev, Co-Principal Investigator at PABI, emphasized the empowerment angle, saying, “This campaign highlights how women-led enterprises are shaping India’s future in agri-tech. It’s inspiring to see a woman entrepreneur take the lead in transforming rural livelihoods through science and sustainability.” The Soil Yatra is supported by a consortium of institutions including IISER Mohali, NSRCEL IIM-B, Nexus UConn, Startup Punjab, SHE – PSCST, and PABI-PAU. The van, designed to conduct on-the-spot soil tests and offer customized reports, will be instrumental in guiding farmers on ideal crop and fertilizer use, thereby promoting regenerative farming and soil conservation. “This is more than a campaign — it’s a soil revolution for Bharat,” said PAU experts.
