Youth Action Fund|

Agriculture is not just a livelihood for farmers in Simraungadh, Baragadhi, Mahagadhimai, and Bindabasini; it is a way of existence. I have grown up seeing these hardworking people struggle with fluctuating market prices, a lack of information, and dependency on middlemen who mostly dictate their earnings. These challenges thus stirred my desire to act and create a platform that could make a difference.

This vision turned into Kishan Connect, bridging the gulf between the farmer and the market. The project, led by me and supported by Purak Asia, involves timely dissemination of market information to farmers, training them, and building their capacity for informed decisions related to their produce and the operation of the enterprise.

Kishan Connect is a multifaceted initiative aimed at empowering rural farmers. It includes a bulk messaging system for delivering daily market price updates, an IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) for accessible communication, and training programs to enhance farmers’ skills and knowledge. These components work together to ensure that even farmers without internet access can benefit from improved market access and better agricultural practices. It helps farmers understand the prevailing market prices of their produce in real-time and farming inputs. These technologies ensured information delivery even from the remotest districts. The interventions did not limit themselves to simple information dissemination but went as far as facilitating training on fixing prices and record maintenance in Simraungadh, Baragadhi, Mahagadhimai, and Bindabasini among others. We enabled them through these trainings to estimate cost, derive profits, and make better deals.

Implementation of Kishan Connect was not without challenges. Most farmers were skeptical about adapting to new technologies. It required time, patience, and repetitive engagement to gain their trust. However, slowly the farmers began to see the benefits accruing from Kishan Connect and wholeheartedly embraced the platform. And the success stories started pouring in a vegetable farmer bargaining with better confidence, a fish pond owner connecting directly with buyers, and a pheasant farmer seeking advice on how to market their birds.

These impact stories further reaffirmed my belief in the potential of Kishan Connect to bring a change in the lives of people. None of this would have been possible without Purak Asia, whose resources and encouragement turned this vision into reality.

As this chapter of Kishan Connect closes, I am hopeful and excited about the future. The success of this project has shown that similar initiatives are required in more communities. I now plan to scale up Kishan Connect, integrate weather forecasting tools, and further support farmers in overcoming agricultural challenges.

Kishan Connect is much more than a project, it’s a movement to empower farmers and give them the wherewithal to rise. We are building together a future wherein agriculture will be less of a struggle and more of a path to prosperity.

Farmers Interaction (Simraungadh)
Training to farmers.
Farmers Interaction (Baragadhi)
Farmers Interaction (Mahagadhimai)
Kalij ready for market.
Bishnu Thakur

Bishnu Thakur is an agriculture student at Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) and an aspiring entrepreneur, working to empower rural farmers through innovative solutions and sustainable practices

This article is a product of the Youth Action Fund – Insights to Social Impact, an initiative supported by Purak Asia. The Youth Action Fund is a four-month fellowship program designed to empower young individuals to implement innovative solutions addressing critical societal challenges. The program focuses on themes such as Sustainable Future, Effective Governance, and Alternative Approaches to Rural Economic Issues. It provides essential support and guidance to youth-led initiatives, encouraging their efforts to establish social enterprises and develop creative solutions for governance and sustainability challenges.

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