Telangana`s First Mobile Soil Lab Ignites a Movement for Environmental Wellness
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Figure: Farmers pose with their soil health cards in front of the Mobile Soil Lab – Technology on Wheels.
ICRISAT June 5 2025
In the spirit of World Environment Day, a grassroots movement in Telangana is proving that environmental action starts from the ground up—literally. ICRISAT and Laurus Charitable Trust are bringing science, hope, and environmental awareness to the doorsteps of farmers and schoolchildren across Shamirpet and Muduchintalapalli mandals—nurturing a deeper connection with the Earth.
Hyderabad, India – 5 June 2025 — What started with a child’s innocent answer — “Food comes from the supermarket”— to a question on ‘where does food come from?’ sparked a powerful idea that is today reshaping farming communities and young minds in Telangana sensitizing them on the soil that grows our food. The first Mobile Soil Health Testing Bus in the state, launched by Laurus Charitable Trust (LCT) in collaboration with ICRISAT, is bringing awareness and science-based support directly to the doorstep of farmers across 22 villages in Shamirpet and Muduchintalapalli mandals with the support of the district-level Agriculture Department officials.
One Health
At the heart of the initiative is a simple but powerful idea: healthy soils grow healthy plants and support a healthy planet. This is the foundation of the One Health approach that ICRISAT and Laurus Labs champion, recognizing that people's well-being is inextricably linked to the health of the environment and ecosystems.
Soil is not just dirt—it’s alive. When we heal it, we heal everything connected to it. Today, this message is reaching farmers, who once relied on blanket fertilizer application, and are now discovering how integrated nutrient management, especially addressing organic carbon and micronutrient imbalances, can improve productivity and restore soil health.
From Disillusion to Discovery: Meeting Farmers Where They Are
In villages where trust has worn thin due to injudicious fertilizer application and uncertain returns, the soil testing bus offered a new promise—no sales pitch, no jargon, just honest, science-backed soil care. From January 2023 to February 2025, ICRISAT scientists tested 2,400 soil samples and issued 2,400 Soil Health Cards, offering personalized advice for each farmer.
The mobile lab provides lab-quality diagnostics for 13 essential soil parameters, including often-ignored micronutrients, particularly in the drylands, such as iron, zinc, copper, boron, and manganese—key soil vitality and crop nutrition parameters. Water quality testing was also provided on farmers' demand.
Growing Curiosity Alongside Crops
The mobile lab didn’t stop at fields—it visited four local schools and one international school, engaging over 1,500 students through hands-on learning, quizzes, and storytelling. Children celebrated World Soil Day 2024 and explored the hidden world beneath their feet, sparking new interests and conversations at home.
Seeds of Change: Scaling Up a Movement
Beyond soil tests, the initiative led by ICRISAT included:
- Farmer exposure visits to the ICRISAT Patancheru campus
- 22 training sessions on aerobic composting
- Compost starter kits for 110 farmers
- Plans for a Plant Health Diagnostic app
- Creation of village wall writing (mural) summarizing soil health
Currently covering over 3488 acres, the project has the potential to scale to 615 acres across Keesara mandal, supported by strong community demand and government interest.
A Future Rooted in Awareness and Wellness
This story, born from a child’s reply and grounded in the science of One Health, shows what’s possible when empathy meets innovation. It’s not just about better yields—it’s about rebuilding pride in farming, restoring the balance between people and planet, and nurturing a new generation of soil stewards.
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