In India, more than 80% of the farmers possess less than 2 hectares of land. The agricultural decisions are largely traditional in nature without being based on scientific data. One of the most important and overlooked is soil health. Although the government is encouraging soil health cards and soil testing in laboratories, the extent is limited. Farmers usually don't know the true nutrient requirements of their land and hence apply fertilizers blindly—either in excess or insufficiently—resulting in productivity loss and waste of resources.
This knowledge shortfall hit Saumya Rawat when she traveled to rural regions throughout her initial research work. She observed that farmers not only did not have access to quality soil testing but also had no faith in scientific advice, primarily due to the fact that they were never presented with the results in a visible, timely, or accessible manner.
From Lab to Land: Birth of Soil Doctor
Recognising this fundamental issue, Saumya founded Ekosight Technologies and created the 'Soil Doctor', a palm-sized, digital soil testing device that works directly in the farmer's field. The Soil Doctor can test for essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, pH, and moisture content, generating real-time information within minutes, without sending samples to remote laboratories.
Saumya realized that technology by itself wouldn't be the solution. Actually, her greatest challenge wasn't technical, it was social acceptance.
Challenges She Faced
When Saumya started introducing the Soil Doctor to farmers, they largely dismissed her. They thought she was just another salesperson. They were resistant to taking suggestions from someone they perceived as an outsider, particularly a young woman with a background in technology. Even after the device was shown to them, they did not want to alter their use of fertilizer.
These rejections were frustrating but revealing. Saumya realizes that unless farmers realized benefits and received guidance from someone they already knew and trusted, they would never switch to a new approach. That's when she turned hyperlocal.
Game-Changer: Creating the ‘Soil Didi’ Model
Her breakthrough idea was the creation of the ‘Soil Didi’ model—training local rural women to become certified soil testers using the Soil Doctor. These women were chosen from the same communities as the farmers, often already engaged in agriculture themselves. Once trained, they could conduct soil tests, interpret results, and offer customized fertilizer recommendations to nearby farmers.
The beauty of this model lies in its sustainability. Soil Didis are not hired staff—they're agri-entrepreneurs. They're paid for each test they sell, while at the same time offering a necessary service that strengthens trust from one farmer to the next. This decentralised model also tackles the last-mile issue that government-led testing usually encounters.
Measurable Results on the Ground
The impact of Saumya's model can be seen in the testimony of farmers like Santoshi and Changalal of Mehmoodpur village in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district. Santoshi, a woman farmer, earned an extra 1.5 quintals of paddy per bigha in the Kharif season after following the advice of the Soil Doctor. Changalal earned 3 quintals more on his 3 bighas of land.
These are not isolated cases. In villages in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, farmers who formerly depended on estimates now possess evidence-based observations which are improving their yields and lessening the amount of fertilizer being used.
Continuous Support: Why Follow-up is Key
A key component of Saumya's success is her focus on follow-up. In contrast to one-off interventions, the Soil Didis remain in touch with farmers across the crop cycle. They make visits to fields at various stages to check whether the suggested fertilizer schedules are being adhered to and collect data on crop reactions. This not only reinforces the trust but also provides a feedback loop that allows Ekosight to improve its algorithms and advisory services.
This method also reveals behavioral understanding—e.g., why a farmer would still overapply nitrogen even after tests—and resolves them through local guidance.
Empowering Women, Enabling Science
Beyond Agriculture, the Soil Didi model is also that of women's empowerment. Such women, typically confined to household chores, now traverse the fields with a tool in hand, demanding respect from other farmers. They are making an income, receiving social recognition, and emerging as knowledge leaders in the community. Often, Soil Didis have empowered other women to begin their own enterprises in the field of farming and allied businesses.
Bigger Vision: From Pilot to Movement
Now, Soil Doctors are used in several states with the help of NGOs, agribusiness, and FPOs. Saumya's ultimate aim is to ensure that soil testing becomes an everyday practice for all farmers, similar to taking blood pressure or sugar levels in the medical field. She believes that by doing so, farmers would seek guidance beforehand while applying inputs and hence save costs, enhance productivity, and preserve soil for generations to come.
With its simplicity, scalability, and empathy, Saumya Rawat's method stands out in a field overrun with high-tech jargon and low farmer uptake. She created a rural service ecosystem that puts science in the hands of people who need it most, rather than merely creating a gadget.
