STARTUPS & INNOVATORS

Pune-based Proximal Soilsens Technologies bridges the gap between lab testing and the field with proximal sensors for real-time soil analysis.

- Nitisha Dubey, Nidhi Agarwal and Yashasvini Razdan

1 BRINGING THE LAB TO THE LAND WITH REAL-TIME SOIL ANALYSIS

Proximal Soilsens Technologies Private Limited, founded by Rajul Patkar in June 2017, has introduced two innovations: NutriSens and TerraPort. NutriSens is a device designed to detect soil nutrients within five minutes, offering instant recommendations for farmers. TerraPort, a compact 100-gram portable device equipped with multiple sensors, enables farmers to traverse their fields, gather real-time data, and upload it via mobile for immediate insights.

“With just 30 minutes of training, anyone—including farmers, women, and students—can operate both devices. NutriSens is a lightweight, 50-gram, ultra-low-power device that runs on mobile phone power and has been validated by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, achieving an impressive 80-90% accuracy compared to lab results,” explains Rajul.

Previously, the startup developed TerraStation, an IoT-enabled soil moisture sensor that continuously transmits data to the cloud for remote irrigation management. However, it was a fixed installation, collecting data only from a specific field. Recognising the need for a more mobile solution, particularly for small farmers, the company introduced TerraPort. To monitor soil moisture profiles, farmers insert the device into the soil, enabling real-time data collection across multiple farms simultaneously. It functions without requiring electricity or batteries.

TerraPort is priced at ₹20,000. So far, it has been introduced primarily to raise awareness among farmers, with only 70 to 80 units sold.