The problem Krishi Mitra solves

Krishi Mitra: Empowering Farmers with Knowledge, regardless of internet access

Three of our team members hail from rural India, intimately acquainted with the challenges faced by farmers. Witnessing the gap between advancing agricultural practices and the lack of smartphone access among farmers, we came up with the idea of "Krishi Mitra."

Krishi Mitra addresses the challenge faced by rural Indian farmers with limited access to smart phones and internet by providing a platform for agricultural education and guidance. It offers access to modern farming techniques, personalized mentorship, a 24/7 IVR helpline , and engagement with agricultural experts. By bridging the gap between traditional practices and modern advancements, Krishi Mitra empowers farmers to improve productivity, optimize resources, and enhance livelihoods.

Problem it Solves:

• Equips farmers with educational resources regardless of internet access.
• Connects them with mentors for guidance and support.
• Facilitates asking farming-related questions to LLM Application.

How Krishi Mitra Helps:

1. Access to Knowledge: Provides a centralized platform for learning modern farming techniques, crop management practices, and pest control methods and all other methods which can help them in any way regardless of internet.
2. Mentorship and Guidance: Facilitates connections with experienced mentors for personalized advice.
3. 24/7 IVR Helpline: Offers instant guidance and assistance through a 24/7 IVR helpline.
4. Engagement with Experts: Enables interaction with agricultural experts through webinars, workshops, and online forums.

Impact:

• Empowers farmers to enhance productivity and increase income.
• Improves livelihoods through the adoption of modern practices.
• Fosters community and knowledge sharing among farmers.

Krishi Mitra is a catalyst for agricultural transformation, enabling farmers to upskill themselves regardless of internet availability.

Challenges we ran into

Challenges Faced and Solutions Implemented

Building our project presented several challenges that required ingenuity and determination to overcome. Here's a rundown of the specific hurdles encountered,how we tackled them:

1. Accessibility for Non-Smartphone Users: The primary challenge was ensuring that farmers without smartphones and internet could still access our platform. Research led us to the IVR API provided by Vonage, allowing farmers to access information via simple phone calls, sidestepping the need for smartphones.
2. Vonage API Limitations:While Vonage's API provided a solution, we faced hurdles such as its lack of support for Indian phone numbers and the inability to update content dynamically. This meant managing international call charges during testing and seeking alternative methods for content updates.
3. Selecting User-Friendly Technology: Choosing the right technology stack for user convenience posed a significant challenge. We aimed for a solution that would be accessible to all farmers, regardless of their technical proficiency. This required finding a balance between simplicity and functionality through careful evaluation and testing.
4. Complex Integration: Integrating various technologies—including Flask, React app, LLM application, OpenAI, and a custom database using Pinecone—proved challenging. Compatibility issues, particularly with Pinecone's outdated documentation, necessitated extensive troubleshooting to ensure seamless integration.
5. React Routing Issues: Implementing React routing presented difficulties as we strived for smooth navigation within the application. Despite initial challenges, we resolved issues through rigorous testing and problem-solving.
6. Testing with Vonage: Testing the application with Vonage posed logistical challenges due to the lack of support for Indian phone numbers. This mandated multiple international calls for testing purposes, adding complexity and cost to the testing phase.