Telangana’s first mobile soil lab ignites a movement for environmental wellness

New Delhi: 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.

“This state-of-the-art mobile lab is designed not just to test soil but to spark a movement. It is helping farmers, many of whom are testing their soils for the first time in years, gain valuable insights into the health of their land, while teaching schoolchildren where food really comes from and why the soil beneath our feet matters,” said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT.

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.

“At Laurus Labs, our CSR focuses on health, education, and the environment. Our partnership with ICRISAT on the ‘Agriculture on Wheels’ initiative is a significant step toward promoting soil and water health. Soil is key to future generations; this effort will help farmers become more profitable. This is just the beginning—we look forward to doing much more together,” said Mr Ravi Kumar, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Laurus Labs.

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.

“A bus came to our village, and the team informed us we would receive useful agricultural advice. They visited our Gram Panchayat Office and distributed soil health cards with guidance on how to grow vegetables and cereals without using excessive fertilizers. By following their recommendations, we were able to grow our crops successfully,” said Konda Anjaiah, a farmer from Kolthur village, Muduchintalapalli mandal.

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.

“We are deeply grateful to LCT for motivating the farmers to get their soils tested as well as for organizing the exposure visit to ICRISAT—an experience that remains etched in our memory,” said Shilpa Yadagiri, Sarpanch (Head) of Kolthur village.

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.

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; and Creation of village wall writing (mural) summarizing soil health.

Currently covering over 3488 acres, the project has the potential to scale to 615 acresacross Keesara mandal, supported by strong community demand and government interest.