AGRITECH STARTUPS HARVESTING SMART SOLUTIONS FOR INDIAN FARMERS

With mobile apps, cloud computing, AI, machine learning and real-time data, startups can now offer instant advice and updates, no matter where the farmer is

- ANINDITA ACHARYA

Earlier, if crops got infected by pests or diseases, farmers had to wait to figure out the problem. Not anymore. Today, with the help of AI-powered tools, they can detect pest attacks or crop diseases early and take action quickly. These tools also help predict weather patterns, understand soil health, and improve farm productivity.

Agritech startups across India are using digital and AI solutions to support farmers like never before. Reaching small and marginal farmers in remote areas used to be a huge challenge. But with mobile apps, cloud computing, machine learning, and real-time data, startups can now offer instant advice and updates, no matter where the farmer is.

Take Deepak Kumar, for example. He's the founder and CEO of Yogitha Biofarming Pvt Ltd in Kharagpur, West Bengal. In 2019, 500 small farmers joined him. Today, over 5,000 farmers rely on his company to help them increase their income through better market links. Deepak, who earlier worked with an NGO in Jharkhand, saw a big knowledge gap between rural farmers and middlemen. While he and his team started by visiting farmers in person, now they're building a mobile app in Bengali and Oriya that can offer services within two hours.