Photo Credit: nkosh.in
Clear Cut Livelihood Desk
New Delhi, UPDATED: Oct 27, 2025 04:57 IST
Written By: Janmojaya Barik
In the heart of India’s agrarian belt, where over 140 million farmers work amid uncertain monsoons and volatile markets, two IIT alumni, Ashutosh Tiwari and Govind Yadav set out to offer hope with their brainchild Nutrikosh India Limited.
In 2020, frustrated by fragmented supply chains, exploitative middlemen, and farmers trapped in low-income cycles, they launched Nkosh. The venture began in an IIT incubator and has since grown into a full-fledged agritech ecosystem. It blends cutting-edge technology with grassroots engagement to make farm-to-market journeys seamless. “We saw the potential in blending IIT-honed innovation with the grit of Indian farmlands,” recalls Ashutosh, an IIT Roorkee alumnus with a passion for rural technology. Govind, the operational backbone of Nkosh, brought deep expertise in supply chain logistics.”
The Agritech Gap
‘At Nkosh, our vision is to transform Indian agriculture into a more connected, transparent, and technology-driven ecosystem. We aim to empower every farmer with knowledge, market access, and digital tools that make farming not just sustainable but truly profitable. Our mission is simple – to bridge the gap between the soil and the marketplace, ensuring that the hands that feed the nation are rewarded with dignity, opportunity, and growth’, mentions Rahul Saini, Director, Nutikosh India Limited
Agriculture anchors India’s economy, employing nearly half its workforce, yet the sector remains riddled with inefficiencies. Farmers face opaque pricing, inconsistent inputs, limited advisory support, and ongoing income risks.
Nkosh was designed to bridge this gap by democratizing access to reliable markets, inputs, and information. By combining neighborhood hubs with user-friendly digital platforms, it ensures farmers in remote areas benefit from modern technology.
Phygital Model: Merging Touch and Tech
At Nkosh’s core is a phygital model, a hybrid of physical presence and digital tools. Krishi Saarthi Kendras, small local centers, act as trusted touchpoints in rural hamlets. Farmers can get soil test reports, procure crops, access high-quality inputs, and handle banking services under one roof. “Purely digital apps wouldn’t work where internet access is unreliable,” Govind explains. “Our Kendras build trust face to face.”
Complementing this physical infrastructure is the Nkosh Farmer App, which offers real-time mandi prices, AI-enabled crop disease diagnostics, commodity bidding, and farm-gate logistics. The app is available in multiple regional languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali, letting farmers bypass intermediaries and connect directly to markets.
Empowering Multiple Stakeholders
Nkosh views agriculture as a connected ecosystem where farmers, buyers, and MSMEs thrive together.
- For farmers, direct market access and advisory services improve yields and incomes, moving them from subsistence to sustainability.
- For buyers, including kirana stores and institutional purchasers, Nkosh guarantees quality produce and timely deliveries.
- For MSMEs, it streamlines supply chains through digital operations, inventory tracking, and dependable sourcing.
This creates a self-reinforcing loop: better yields attract more buyers, which in turn stabilizes supply chains for MSMEs, lifting the entire ecosystem.
Photo Credit: nkosh.in
Technology as a Force Multiplier
The Nkosh Farmer App uses AI and machine learning to deliver actionable insights on crop health, price forecasts, and pest management. These are based on real farm data, not just lab simulations.
In a country where smartphone penetration in rural areas is still around 40 percent, Nkosh has prioritized inclusivity. Voice-enabled advisories and offline functionality let digitally hesitant farmers participate full.
Impact and Recognition
From its modest beginnings, Nkosh has expanded rapidly. Today, 25+ Krishi Saarthi Kendras operate across 22 districts, reaching over 50,000 farmers. The startup has received recognition from Google Appscale Academy and IIT incubators for its scalable, inclusive approach.
Farmers in states like Bihar and Gujarat have shared how timely crop alerts helped them avert losses, while MSMEs report more stable supply chains and increased turnover.
Challenges Ahead
Scaling a phygital model across India comes with challenges. Expansion requires significant capital, training local field staff, and ensuring uptime in multiple languages. Climate volatility and market fluctuations add another layer of uncertainty. “Challenges are our fertilizer – they make us stronger,” Ashutosh says with a smile.
Toward Inclusive Agritech
Nkosh isn’t just another startup. It is a bold experiment in equitable agritech. By bringing farmers, buyers, and MSMEs into a shared ecosystem, it chips away at structural bottlenecks that have constrained Indian agriculture for decades.
The phygital ethos, technology fused with human trust, demonstrates that innovation in agriculture thrives best when rooted in proximity and participation.
If Nkosh sustains its momentum, it could anchor India’s agritech surge in the years to come. For millions of farmers, this is not just innovation. It is a lifeline.
