Kisan Setu, a Pune-based agritech startup that sends farmers daily voice notes on weather, pests and market prices, has raised ₹85 crore in a new funding round, the company said on Friday.
The startup's service works on basic phones as well as smartphones. Farmers register their crop and village, and receive a short voice message every morning in their language, along with alerts when pest outbreaks are reported nearby.
"Most advice apps assume a smartphone and a lot of reading," said co-founder Radhika Kulkarni. "Our farmers told us they prefer a 60-second voice note they can listen to while walking to the field."
What the money will fund
- Expanding from five to eight languages, including two tribal languages.
- Hiring 200 field agronomists who verify reports and visit farmers.
- Better price forecasts for 30 crops, using data from regulated markets.
- A helpline where farmers can send a photo of a sick plant and get a reply within a day.
The company says it has 6,50,000 active users and wants to reach 2 million in two years. It earns money from a paid premium tier, input sellers who advertise verified products, and contracts with farmer producer companies.
Agricultural experts say digital advice works best alongside field visits. Ms Kulkarni agrees: "A voice note can warn you. A person in the field earns your trust."
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