NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 20 – Kenyan agri-tech firm UjuziKilimo has launched what it says is the world’s first smartphone-based soil testing solution, a move that could significantly lower the cost and time required for soil analysis by farmers.
The product, dubbed ‘SoilPal Pro’, uses a smartphone-connected spectral soil sensor to deliver instant, laboratory-grade insights into soil health, allowing farmers to test soils on-site and receive results within seconds.
UjuziKilimo Chief Executive Officer Brian Bosire said the solution has been extensively tested to provide accurate, data-validated soil intelligence, eliminating the need for conventional laboratory testing.
“SoilPal Pro isn’t just about knowing your soil; it’s about democratizing access to soil intelligence,” Bosire said, adding that the technology is designed to help farmers cope with rising input costs, climate pressures and food security challenges.
Unlike traditional soil testing tools, SoilPal Pro works globally without local calibration, enabling consistent accuracy across different agro-ecological zones. This feature is expected to support the company’s expansion into international markets, including Europe, the United States, Asia and South America.
The device combines visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectroscopy, artificial intelligence and cloud connectivity to analyse more than 13 key soil parameters, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, organic carbon, moisture and salinity. The results are processed through UjuziKilimo’s predictive agronomy engine, which provides location-specific recommendations directly to a user’s smartphone.
Weighing 105 grams, the device is designed for use in rugged field conditions. Each test feeds data into UjuziKilimo’s cloud-based platform, where machine-learning models trained on thousands of soil profiles continue to refine accuracy and recommendations.
The launch also marks the retirement of the company’s earlier SoilPal 1.0 programme, which UjuziKilimo says reached more than 100,000 farmers and delivered yield gains of up to 30 percent in the first season and up to 200 percent over three years.
UjuziKilimo said SoilPal Pro is now commercially available and is targeting adoption by individual farmers, agribusinesses, governments and development partners seeking to scale precision agriculture and improve productivity.
