: Karnataka Startups AI Technology Helps 5500 Silk Farmers Increase Income By 30% #IndiaNEWS #Karnataka Raghu D from Sarjapur in Karnataka follows sericulture farming, which involves rearing silkworms

Karnataka Startups AI Technology Helps 5500 Silk Farmers Increase Income By 30% #IndiaNEWS #Karnataka
Raghu D from Sarjapur in Karnataka follows sericulture farming, which involves rearing silkworms to produce silk. From 2011 up until the past year, he had been following traditional methods sincerely, and was selling silk in the market, located in Kolar and Ramanagara, around 50-70 km away from his native area.
However, recently, he began employing various technological interventions on his farm, which have increased his income by 25%, while reducing investment costs. “The changes adopted consistently earn Rs 90,000 to Rs 1 lakh a month, against the Rs 50,000 to 70,000 I was earning without using modern methods,??? he tells The Better India.
This has been because of Reshamandi, a startup that helps sericulture farmers improve the yield and quality of silk using artificial intelligence, cloud platforms and sensors, all boxed in a portable device. These technological interventions have helped 5,500 farmers across Karnataka increase their income by almost 30% and ensure steady profits from the market.
Chalking a tech-route for silk
Mayank Tiwari, co-founder and CEO of the startup, says the idea struck him after he realised the various challenges being faced by farmers. “I graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in 2007, and spent over a decade working with artisans, handloom weavers and textile workers. I saw how farmers were suffering from market linkages, crop failures and ensuring consistent quality in production, among others,??? he says.
Coccon
After working in various areas, Mayank narrowed his attention to silk farmers to help them earn better income using technology. “India is the largest producer of silk after China, and employs approximately 8. 25 million people in rural and semi-urban areas. Though it is a big sector, farmers continue to follow traditional methods that do not optimise the yield and quality of silk. Very often, Indian silk is mixed with Chinese silk to compensate for the quality. But adopting scientific methods can help farmers, as the sericulture sector remains an unattended zone,??? he adds.
Mayank and his partners, Saurabh Agarwal and Utkarsh Apoorva, developed software and devices that would assist the farmers in achieving high quality silk, and launched ReshaMandi in 2020.
“The aim is to standardise and revolutionise operations of the silk industry. We are doing it by using self-developed technology and application that involves AI-tested quality inputs, IoT-led advisories, and near-proximity output linkages,??? he says, adding that the startup also works on-ground with farmers at all levels.
Mayank says the startup is a 360-degree solution for farmers, as it engages with stakeholders in the industry such as weavers, reelers, farmers and the government to get the best outcome for them.

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