KhetSaathi – Voice-First Farming Companion
Inclusive Design · Conversational UX · Systems Thinking
Summary
Millions of low-tech farmers rely on instinct to make daily crop decisions—but climate change and limited resources are making that increasingly unsustainable. KhetSaathi is a voice-enabled mobile assistant designed for rural Indian farmers. It delivers localized advice using real-time weather, soil data, and conversational guidance, empowering them with smart, accessible farming insights.
Problem Identification
Unpredictable environmental conditions:Weather and soil variability make traditional agriculture riskier.
Fragmented decision-making tools: Farmers juggle unreliable analog practices and fragmented digital resources.
Technical and literacy barriers: Many farmers prefer or require voice-based interactions due to low literacy.
Research & Personas
Conducted interviews with farmers across literacy levels and mapped their workflows.
Persona – Reshma, 58, Maharashtra
– Age: 58
– Location: Rural Maharashtra, India
-Occupation: Small-scale farmer
-Education Level: No formal education
-Tech Familiarity: Owns a basic mobile phone
Challenges:
– Relies on traditional knowledge, often outdated
– Struggles to understand weather patterns, pest control, and market fluctuations
– No easy access to agronomists or government advisory service
Feature Ideation & Value Propositions
1. Voice Onboarding – Set preferences like crops, soil type, and language with conversational ease.
2. Daily Vocal Briefing – Receive tailored updates and reminders via voice.
3. Photo-Based Problem Detection – Snap a picture to diagnose pests or diseases visually.
4. Voice Archive & Scheduling – Store past advice and access it through simple conversation.
Prioritization Frameworks
RICE Framework (for Feature Prioritization)
Insight: Voice Onboarding and Daily Briefing clearly score the highest, making them “must-ship” first.
MoSCoW Prioritization
Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, Won’t Have (for now)
Must Have
Voice Onboarding (essential to personalize experience)
Daily Vocal Briefing (core value proposition: actionable advice)
Should Have
Photo-Based Problem Detection (important, but can follow after MVP)
Could Have
Voice Archive & Scheduling (nice-to-have feature, adds convenience)
Won’t Have (for now)
AI-driven Market Price Predictions (future extension idea, not core to MVP)
👉 Insight: Focusing on Must Haves ensures the MVP solves the real pain point—accessible, localized voice guidance.
Impact & Metrics
Decision Confidence: 4/5 users reported feeling more sure about their next farming step.
Time Savings: Farmers spent 40% less time searching for actionable advice.
Usability Feedback: Positive response to voice-first interaction; low friction during testing.
Conclusion
Through empathic design, local language support, and voice interaction, KhetSaathi amplifies the agency of smallholder farmers. It’s a project where civic good meets practical design, showing how thoughtful UX can improve livelihoods and resilience in vulnerable communities.
Want to explore more? Let’s connect and dig into the full prototype.