Shweta Thakare, Co-founder of GramHeet, witnessed the struggles of farmers and to support them, she first launched Kastkar, a mobile helpline providing real-time price updates and market insights. Later, she co-founded GramHeet, offering post-harvest services. To further empower farmers, GramHeet developed the GramHeet mandi app, enabling informed decision-making through market trends and pricing intelligence. Through these initiatives, she provides comprehensive support to help farmers maximize their post-harvest gains and achieve financial stability.
From Farmer Roots to Agricultural Innovation
Growing up in a farming family, Shweta Thakare understood the struggles that smallholder farmers face firsthand. She witnessed the lack of market transparency, uncertainty around price discovery, the challenges of post-harvest management, and the monopoly of middlemen in the agricultural market. Her deep-rooted connection to farming, combined with her passion for creating impactful solutions, laid the foundation for GramHeet—an initiative that is revolutionizing post-harvest services and market accessibility for farmers.
Shweta’s journey in agricultural transformation began with a strong academic foundation. With a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Amravati University and a Master’s in Development Studies from IIT Hyderabad, she combined her technical expertise with her passion for agricultural reform.
Kastkar: Beginning of a Farmer-Centric Revolution
Shweta spearheaded another pioneering initiative—Kastkar—which addressed critical gaps in agricultural awareness and market intelligence. She mobilized a network of 280 volunteers and 15 government departments to establish a mobile-based helpline for farmers in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. This helpline provided real-time price updates and market rates to 5,000 farmers, enabling them to make informed decisions about selling their produce.
Kastkar was a breakthrough in how smallholder farmers accessed crucial market information. By bridging the gap between farmers and price transparency, the initiative reduced exploitation and enhanced financial stability. This success fueled Shweta’s ambition to scale solutions beyond a single district and develop a more comprehensive agricultural support system.
GramHeet: Bridging the Farm-to-Market Gap
Recognizing that price transparency alone wouldn’t solve the myriad challenges farmers faced, Shweta co-founded GramHeet—an integrated post-harvest service provider that operates directly at the village level through digital platforms. GramHeet was designed to empower farmers with storage, credit, and market linkage—three pillars that determine post-harvest success.
Key Services of GramHeet
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Storage Facilities: Farmers often lack proper storage, forcing them to sell crops immediately, often at lower prices. GramHeet provides modern storage infrastructure that allows farmers to store their produce until market conditions are favorable.
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Credit Access: Without capital, farmers struggle to hold their crops for better rates. GramHeet offers credit options that enable farmers to wait for optimal pricing rather than selling under pressure.
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Market Linkage: Traditionally, middlemen control access to markets, often leading to farmers receiving unfair compensation for their produce. GramHeet eliminates intermediaries, allowing farmers to connect directly with buyers.
These services are delivered via the GramHeet website and digital tools, ensuring seamless access to market demand, mandi rates, and financial assistance. GramHeet’s innovative Gramheet mandi app further enhances farmer decision-making by providing accurate market trends and pricing intelligence.
A Growing Impact Across India
GramHeet’s model has proven immensely successful, reaching 35,000 farmers, including 5,000 women farmers, across Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The impact has been economically transformative, with farmers experiencing a 40% increase in income due to improved market access, better storage options, and informed decision-making.
Shweta’s work has not gone unnoticed. She has been featured in Forbes Asia and Forbes India, recognized for GramHeet’s groundbreaking innovations and real-world impact on farmer livelihoods. She has also received prestigious fellowships, including:
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Upaya & MIT-DLabs Fellow (2020)
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Lead Tribe Fellow (2020)
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Westerwelle Foundation Fellow (2021)
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Action for India Fellow (2021)
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Pusa Krishi Fellow (2021)
Each accolade highlights her dedication to agricultural reform, technological advancement, and farmer empowerment.
Beyond Business: Building a Movement
GramHeet is more than a service—it’s a movement toward farmer empowerment, financial independence, and knowledge-sharing. The organization actively builds networks, educates farmers, and expands outreach to ensure more farmers benefit from structured post-harvest solutions. Shweta and her team emphasize the importance of knowledge-sharing, ensuring farmers understand their rights, market dynamics, and financial opportunities.
As GramHeet grows, Shweta remains focused on scaling solutions, strengthening rural economies, and reshaping the agricultural landscape. Her journey proves that passion, technology, and community-driven initiatives can turn farming from a struggle for survival into a path of prosperity. Through GramHeet, Shweta Thakare is not just transforming agriculture—she’s creating a future where farmers thrive.
