Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture Increase Farmers' Incomes by 40% Through Immediate Price Updates, Market Knowledge, and Post-Harvest Assistance
In the heart of rural India, Shweta Thakare is revolutionising agriculture through her venture, GramHeet. Co-founded by Thakare, GramHeet offers post-harvest services to farmers, aiming to turn farming from a struggle for survival into a path of prosperity.
Thakare, who grew up in a farming family, witnessed firsthand the struggles of smallholder farmers. This personal connection fuelled her ambition to scale solutions beyond a single district and develop a more comprehensive agricultural support system.
GramHeet operates directly at the village level through digital platforms, providing storage, credit, and market linkage services. Their key services are designed to empower farmers with post-harvest success pillars. Through its "GramHeet Mandi" centers located in villages, farmers can store their produce until market prices improve, avoiding distress sales immediately after harvest. GramHeet also offers post-harvest credit to meet urgent financial needs without forcing farmers to sell at low rates. Basic processing services are available to add value to the produce before it reaches the market.
Regarding market accessibility initiatives, GramHeet has developed a model that includes direct market linkages, bypassing intermediaries and thereby improving farmers' returns. They integrate technology and community-based infrastructure with strong local ownership to strengthen farmers' bargaining power and ensure better access to fair prices.
Thakare's initiatives have reached 35,000 farmers, including 5,000 women farmers, across Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. One of her earliest projects, Kastkar, was a mobile-based helpline providing real-time price updates and market insights to 5,000 farmers in Yavatmal, Maharashtra.
As GramHeet grows, Thakare remains focused on scaling solutions, strengthening rural economies, and reshaping the agricultural landscape. Her mission extends beyond business, focusing on farmer empowerment, financial independence, and knowledge-sharing.
Thakare's work with GramHeet has earned her recognition in prestigious circles. She has been featured in Forbes Asia and Forbes India for her contributions to the agricultural sector. Thakare has also received several fellowships, including the Upaya & MIT-DLabs Fellow (2020), Lead Tribe Fellow (2020), Westerwelle Foundation Fellow (2021), Action for India Fellow (2021), and Pusa Krishi Fellow (2021).
With a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering and a Master's in Development Studies, Thakare is a testament to the power of passion, technology, and community-driven initiatives in transforming agriculture. Through GramHeet, she is not just transforming agriculture—she's creating a future where farmers thrive.
Technology and lifestyle are evident in GramHeet's operation, as they utilize digital platforms to provide various post-harvest services, streamlining storage, credit, and market linkage for farmers. The adoption of technology empowers farmers and allows them to connect directly with markets, ensuring better access to fair prices and improving their bargaining power – all essential components of a sustainable and prosperous farming lifestyle.
