Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched the “Lab on Wheels” initiative, introducing mobile laboratories that will travel to farms across the province to provide instant soil and water testing services to farmers.
The project aims to shift Punjab’s agriculture towards a scientific and digital farming model by helping farmers make better decisions about crop selection and fertilizer usage.
Under the initiative, farmers will be able to request testing services through a single phone call. Mobile lab teams will visit farms, collect soil and water samples, conduct analysis on-site, and provide immediate digital reports along with recommendations for suitable crops and fertilizer application.
The mobile laboratories will provide:
- On-site soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) testing
- Analysis of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) levels
- Instant digital reports through SMS and WhatsApp
- Crop selection and fertilizer recommendations based on soil conditions
- Agricultural expert guidance at farmers’ fields
Speaking at the launch, Maryam Nawaz said scientific soil assessment and balanced fertilizer use are critical to increasing agricultural productivity, reducing input costs, and improving farmers’ income.
She said the initiative would help move Punjab’s agriculture away from traditional practices towards a technology-driven system.
Officials said the project will be monitored through a central control room, with all mobile laboratories equipped with GPS tracking, live camera streaming, and dashboard monitoring to ensure transparency.
Farmer requests and field staff attendance will be managed through digital systems, while real-time data will be used to develop a GPS-based soil map of Punjab.
Under the annual targets of the project, the government plans to:
- Collect 20,000 soil samples
- Organize 500 farmers’ field days
- Train 15,000 farmers
- Develop a digital soil mapping system using cloud-based data
Officials expect the initiative to improve soil health, promote efficient fertilizer use, reduce farming expenses, and provide scientific agricultural support directly at farmers’ doorsteps.
