In December 2024, Deep Griha Academy, located in the heart of Deulgaon Gada, Morgaon Road, Daund Taluka, Pune, held a unique event. Farmers from neighbouring areas visited the school to get their soil tested. The scientists performing the test were students of classes seven and eight.

“Soil health is the backbone of sustainable agriculture, and assisting our students with the knowledge to improve it is the first step towards improving our farming practices,” says Ashlesha Onawale, director of Deep Griha Society that runs the Academy.

In 2007, the school decided to introduce the agriculture vertical into its curriculum. The idea was to ensure that the next generation understands the vital role agriculture plays not just in the economy, but also in sustaining their local communities.

“At our academy, students are introduced to agriculture from a young age. The school teaches children the complete cycle of farming, from sowing seeds to harvesting, while emphasising organic farming methods,” says Swapna Sonkambale, the organic agriculture teacher at the institute.

Soil health for a better tomorrow

“Soil is the foundation of all agriculture, and teaching students about its importance has become central to the school’s agricultural education,” Swapna shares. She, along with Angela Aram, the programme and corporate engagement coordinator, and Ashlesha, the director of the academy, have been central in initiating the soil testing project for classes seven and eight.

The initiative began with an eye on the needs of the local farming community.

“In many rural areas, farmers often struggle to access accurate soil health data. Without the right information, they risk wasting money on fertilisers that their soil may not need, or missing out on essential nutrients that could improve their crop yield,” explains Swapna.

To find a way to address this, the Academy got into discussions with Proximal Soilsens — a company that produces soil testing kits and helps farmers understand their crops better. Soon they acquired soil testing kits, allowing students to learn how to test local soil and provide farmers with authentic data to........

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