Inspired by their roots in Odisha’s farming communities, Amrita Jagatdeo and Minushri Madhumita are transforming the agricultural landscape through sustainable technology. As the founders of ThinkRaw, they have developed Krishi Dhanu and Dhivara Mitra, two innovative, solar-powered solutions designed to address key challenges in agriculture and aquaculture. These IoT-enabled devices aim to improve productivity, support environmental conservation, and empower rural farmers with accessible, cutting-edge tools.
In an exclusive interview with Agrotech Space, Minushri Madhumita shares insights into their journey, the impact of their products, and their vision for the future of agrotech. Edited excerpts of the interview:
Q. What inspired ThinkRaw to develop Krishi Dhanu and Dhivara Mitra, and how do these innovations address the needs of farmers?
Ans: Dhivara Mitra is an integrated, solar-powered, floatable, and sustainable energy solution designed for fish and prawn farming. Similarly, Krishi Dhanu is a solar-powered, portable, and IoT-enabled device that ensures the uniform distribution of both chemical and organic solid fertilizers, helping farmers improve their harvests.
Both of us (Amrita and Minushri), grew up in the western districts of Odisha, where farming is a primary livelihood. With experience in solar EPC work since 2016, we have always been driven by a desire to bring advanced technology to remote areas and support farmers with suitable agrotech solutions. The development of these two innovations was prompted during the pandemic when we witnessed a significant return of migrant workers to their villages, many of whom turned to farming for livelihood generation.
Q. How do these products fit into the broader context of sustainable agriculture and aquaculture?
Ans: These products contribute significantly to sustainable agriculture and aquaculture by addressing multiple aspects of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. By improving harvest quality and quantity, they enhance farmers’ revenue, creating a positive financial impact. The solutions also empower women entrepreneurs in aquaculture, as their integrated and automated features make the processes more accessible and manageable for female farmers. Additionally, they facilitate employment generation in rural and remote areas, as individuals can purchase the devices and rent them to local farmers, creating a revenue stream. From an environmental perspective, the solar-powered technology promotes the use of clean energy while ensuring the uniform distribution of feed, minimizing wastage, and reducing water pollution.
Q. What specific challenges in agriculture and aquaculture do these solutions aim to address?
Ans: These solutions aim to tackle some major problems faced by farmers in agriculture and aquaculture. In fish and prawn farming, challenges like poor feeding practices, difficulty in maintaining the right oxygen levels (Dissolved Oxygen) in the water, and improper pH levels often lead to a high death rate in stock. For crop farming, uneven distribution of fertilizers and the hard work involved in manual processes result in lower productivity and income for farmers. These solutions are designed to make farming easier and more efficient, helping farmers improve their yield and income.
Q. How does the smart control system work in both Krishi Dhanu and Dhivara Mitra?
Ans: The smart control system in Dhivara Mitra uses a solar-powered floating device that covers the entire water area. It helps distribute feed evenly and maintains the right oxygen and pH levels in the water. For Krishi Dhanu, the system is a solar-powered, portable device used for distributing fertilizers evenly on land. As I said earlier, it helps ensure the uniform application of both chemical and organic fertilizers, improving the quality and quantity of the harvest.
Q. How does the solar technology in these devices improve their efficiency, and what role do the batteries play?
Ans: Both devices run on solar energy, ensuring the use of clean and renewable power. Krishi Dhanu uses solar power to operate a fertilizer dispenser, with a battery backup of 2-3 hours, supporting efficient fertilizer application. The battery is designed to last for about three years. On the other hand, Dhivara Mitra employs solar energy to power a floating system for fish and prawn farming, with batteries that store power to maintain aeration during low oxygen levels. These batteries are built to last up to five years.
Q. How does the fertilizer dispenser ensure precise application, and how does this benefit farmers?
Ans: The solar-powered IoT fertilizer dispenser uses sensors to monitor key factors such as nutrient levels, dissolved oxygen, and pH in real-time. This data is sent to a cloud-based system, which calculates the precise amount, type, and timing of fertilizer needed. The dispenser then releases the right amount based on this analysis. Farmers can control the dispenser through mobile phones or computers. This system prevents over-fertilization, reduces costs, and promotes healthy growth of fish and prawns. It eliminates reliance on fossil fuels or grid electricity, lowers fuel costs, minimizes harm to human skin, and is easy to use and carry, making it especially beneficial for female farmers. The uniform distribution of fertilizer helps improve yield quality.
Q. Can you share any case studies or success stories from farmers using Krishi Dhanu?
Ans: ShantiMaitree, a vegetable farming-based Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) in Kandhamal district of Odisha, has been using Krishi Dhanu since 2022. The farmer members have reduced fertilizer wastage and expenses by 18% to 20%. With Krishi Dhanu, they can complete fertilizer dispersal in just 30 minutes per acre, significantly lowering their reliance on human labor by 50%. Additionally, many female farmer members of the FPO find it easy to handle the device, making the task more accessible to them.
Q. How does Dhivara Mitra regulate dissolved oxygen and pH levels, and what improvements have users seen in fish health and growth?
Ans: Dhivara Mitra regulates dissolved oxygen (DO) levels through both surface and sub-surface aeration (up to 2 feet depth) and maintains pH balance through chemical dispersal. It supports various inland fish species, including Rohu, Catla, Carp, and Asian sea bass. Users have reported a 20% to 30% increase in harvest quantity per acre, along with better quality produce.
Q. Who is ThinkRaw’s target market for these products, and what feedback have you received from early adopters?
Ans: ThinkRaw’s target market includes small and individual farmers, FPOs, custom hiring centres, SHGs, women farmers, large fish and prawn farmers, and aquaculture tool vendors. Early adopters have provided very encouraging feedback.
Q. Are there any plans to expand the product line or introduce new features based on user feedback?
Ans: Yes, ThinkRaw places a strong emphasis on R&D, viewing it as an ongoing process to improve our solutions based on user feedback. While we have not yet considered expanding the product line, we remain open to the idea if there is demand that aligns with our product strategy.
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Q. How do you envision the future of solar technology in agriculture and aquaculture?
Ans: The future of solar technology in agriculture and aquaculture holds great potential, offering innovations that can boost sustainability, productivity, and efficiency. Solar-powered solutions for irrigation and aquaculture remove the reliance on diesel or grid electricity, reducing dependence on human labor and specialized skills. These technologies streamline farming tasks, lowering operational costs while enhancing harvest yields, thereby increasing farmers’ confidence in their ability to generate greater income. We believe these solutions will encourage small and marginal farmers to shift from seeing farming primarily as a means of subsistence to viewing it as a viable business opportunity.
Q. Are there any partnerships or collaborations in place to enhance the reach or effectiveness of your solutions?
Ans: To expand the reach and impact of our solutions, we are leveraging multiple strategies. We work through distributorship channels and business network groups to enhance visibility. Additionally, we actively participate in exhibitions that promote innovative products and solutions. Collaborating with our NGO partner, we connect with various centers and FPO groups, further extending our network. We also use social media platforms to engage a wider audience and raise awareness. To reduce costs, we utilize government subsidy schemes and maintain connections with relevant government departments such as CIFA, NABARD, and Balasore for support and collaboration.
Q. What advice would you offer to farmers or aquaculture operators thinking about adopting solar-powered solutions?
Ans: Farmers considering solar-powered solutions should take a strategic approach to the transition. They should first assess their specific energy needs, such as for irrigation or aeration, and identify areas where solar can effectively address challenges. It’s crucial to select the right technology and opt for smart systems that can be scaled up as their needs grow over time.
