Kaushik Kappagantulu's agri-tech enterprise, Kheyti, is providing Indian farmers with a "greenhouse-in-a-box" designed to mitigate the impacts of a changing climate. The initiative, which means "farming" in Hindi, aims to support the country's more than 100 million smallholder farmers, who are critical to the production of staple foods like rice, wheat, and pulses.
Farmers in India face significant challenges during the summer months, typically from March to June, due to extreme heat, unpredictable rainfall, and declining groundwater levels. During a recent heatwave in April, Kheyti's sensors recorded ground temperatures reaching 125 degrees Fahrenheit on some farms. Kappagantulu noted that such extreme weather events "wipe out their hard work," impacting the livelihood of the average Indian farmer who earns approximately $1,000 annually.
Kheyti's solution is a low-cost, modular greenhouse structure, often referred to as a net house. These are designed to be smaller than traditional greenhouses, making them suitable for farmers with limited land. The structures incorporate shade cloth that can reduce internal temperatures by about 9 degrees Fahrenheit and are equipped with drip irrigation systems. Each greenhouse is also linked to an AI-powered tool that provides farmers with advice on crop selection and pest management.
This integrated approach has yielded significant results. Farmers using Kheyti's system have reported a 58% reduction in crop losses, while using 67% less water and 70% less fertilizer. Consequently, their net income has tripled compared to farmers on similar plots of land who do not use the technology. Kheyti partners with local governments to offer subsidies and low-cost loans, making the greenhouses accessible at a price point of $200 to $300 each.
The "greenhouse-in-a-box" concept received the Earthshot Prize in 2022. Kheyti is currently working with approximately 7,000 farmers across eight Indian states and plans to double this number within the next year, with support from the Indian government, which has encouraged state partnerships with the company. Kappagantulu aims to expand the greenhouse model globally within three years and is developing complementary products, such as flexible solar panels for the greenhouses. His long-term goal is to help one million farmers establish secure, climate-smart livelihoods by 2033, emphasizing the need for collective action in addressing climate change in agriculture.