In the quiet fields of rural India, a technological revolution is taking root — not powered by massive machines or expensive equipment, but by a device no bigger than a farmer’s palm. And at the heart of this revolution stands Dr. Rajul Patkar, an IIT-Bombay scientist whose breakthrough invention is rewriting the future of Indian agriculture.
Dr. Patkar, co-founder and CEO of Proximal Soilsens Technologies, has created NutriSens, the world’s smallest, fastest, and most affordable soil testing device. Today, more than 15,000 farmers across India are using it to understand their soil better, reduce harmful fertiliser misuse, and make smarter crop decisions — all within five minutes, right from their fields.
A Revolutionary Idea Born from a Glucometer
The seeds of NutriSens were planted over a decade ago in the corridors of IIT-Bombay. During her PhD, Dr. Patkar had a simple but powerful thought:
“If a glucometer can test blood instantly, why can’t farmers test soil the same way?”
That question led to years of research, trials across different soil types, and field challenges. Eventually, she and her team developed a paper-strip-based soil test that detects crucial nutrients — nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, pH, micronutrients, and moisture — delivering lab-grade reports instantly on a mobile app.
Affordable Science for Small Farmers
Traditional soil testing is slow, costly, and often inaccessible for small farmers. NutriSens changed that with:
●Instant reports in 3–5 minutes
●Cost-effective testing (up to 80% cheaper than labs)
●Smart fertiliser recommendations
●Full soil health history stored digitally
For many farmers, this is the first time they truly “know” their soil — its deficiencies, strengths, and what each crop needs to thrive.
From IIT Lab to India’s Villages
Today, NutriSens devices are being used in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Punjab, and even by government extension teams and agri-startups. The technology has helped:
●Reduce fertiliser overuse
●Improve yields
●Lower farming costs
●Restore long-term soil health
Several farmers report saving thousands of rupees per season simply by correcting nutrient imbalance based on NutriSens reports.
Empowering India’s Next Agri-Tech Movement
Dr. Patkar’s journey is also a story of Indian innovation. As a woman scientist and entrepreneur, she has broken stereotypes, built a deep-tech company from scratch, and proven that world-class agricultural technology can be made in India, for Indian farmers.
NutriSens is now being studied for global expansion — from Africa to Southeast Asia — positioning Dr. Rajul Patkar as one of the emerging faces of India’s agritech transformation.
What started as one scientist’s curiosity has become a device powering a greener, smarter, and more sustainable future for Indian farming.
