These Kalahandi Women Create IoT Devices to Assist Fish Farmers & Get Bumper Harvest

Minushri Madhumita and Amrita Jagatdeo of Bhawanipatna have created 3 solar-powered devices that are Internet of Things (IoT) enabled and would improve fisheries production.

When their peers are looking for white-collar jobs, two technical graduates from one of the country's most backward districts, Kalahandi, invested their time and knowledge in resolving issues that the farming community has been grappling with.

About IoT-Enabled Devices:

The products' prototypes- Dhivara Mitra, Krishi Dhanu, and Matsya Bandhu - have been finished and patented. Dhivara Mitra, an IoT-enabled integrated floating device, will provide uniform feed distribution and aeration in fish ponds.

The pH measurement scale attached to the device can measure and maintain the pH level of the water body, which is beneficial for both fish and prawn farmers. Krishi Dhanu is a solid fertilizer dispenser, whereas Matsya Bandhu is a fish/prawn feed dispenser.

According to Madhumita, fish farmers can now earn more money thanks to technological advancements. According to her, the fully automated Dhivara Mitra is a solution to the problems that fish farmers face due to uneven feed distribution and dissolved oxygen maintenance.

Almost 30% (pc) of the fish/prawn stock is damaged due to a lack of proper aeration, feed, and oxygenation because the process highly skills dependent, and the key tasks are typically executed in a disintegrated manner with a high reliance on labourers.

"Because labour is scarce in many places, the integrated device will distribute feed uniformly and monitor water quality by activating the aeration process as needed while also maintaining the pH level in the water body." Farmers won't have to worry because the process is completely automated," she said.

About Madhumita & Amrita:

Madhumita, an MSc in chemistry with a Post Graduate Diploma in Management, and Amrita, a BE in electrical with an MBA in Finance, have left their corporate jobs in the IT sector to launch ThinkRaw Innovative Solutions Pvt Ltd, which will provide tech-enabled solar solutions.

They were born and raised in Kalahandi and have always wanted to share technology and solar power with the tribal and rural populations. "When we began working with farmers' producer companies and providing solar power solutions to them, we became aware of the technology gap and drudgery associated with the farming process."

"We then made the decision to look for innovative solar-powered and smart technology-based solutions," Amrita explained.

While Dhivara Mitra is being validated at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Krishi Dhanu commercial production has begun. The startup is incubated at STPI, Bhubaneswar, and is guided by Sri Sri University.

Tech Development

• They created three products: Dhivara Mitra, Krishi Dhanu, and Matsya Bandhu.

• Solar-powered product prototypes have been completed and patented.

• Dhivara Mitra will handle feed distribution and aeration in fish ponds.