In the small village of Lanva in North Gujarat, farming has long depended on the availability of groundwater. For generations, families relied on wells to irrigate their crops, but today, many of those wells are running dry. With limited infrastructure and unreliable electricity, traditional flood irrigation remains common—wasting precious water through runoff and seepage. Amid these challenges, 16-year-old Ayan Patel from Mehsana chose not to inherit the problem, but to find a solution.
A Legacy of Advocacy and Innovation
Discussions on farming struggles have long surrounded Ayan. His great-grandfather, Shaheed Vir Tribhuvandas Patel, pioneered North Gujarat’s first borewell and laid down his life championing farmers’ rights. Continuing that legacy, his grandfather Ajit Patel broadened access to water and stood firmly beside farming communities. This legacy of innovation and service shaped Ayan’s early understanding of agricultural struggles and instilled in him a belief that farmers deserve not only sympathy but also solutions.
Birth of Krishimitra
That’s why Ayan launched Krishimitra (Farmer’s Friend), a grassroots initiative to scale practical, community-driven answers. Under the neem trees, he began Khedut Sabha circles where farmers shared challenges. The Sarpanch of Lanva, recognizing the potential, lent his support by encouraging wider participation through the panchayat.
It soon became clear that knowledge was not the issue. Farmers understood the value of efficient irrigation and sustainable practices, but lacked the tools and support to act on it. Water conservation and saving groundwater became a central priority, alongside soil health awareness, leading Krishimitra to introduce affordable testing and practical solutions that help farmers make better choices on crops, fertilizers, and water use.
Designing SaurSinchAI
Determined to turn his ideas into accessible, tangible solutions, Ayan actively pitched his concept to a local manufacturing firm specializing in industrial development. After several discussions and refinements, he secured their support. He worked closely with their engineers to design and manufacture SaurSinchAI, a solar-powered, AI-enabled irrigation rover equipped with a mobile soil probe that reads real-time soil health data.
The rover delivers precision farming by applying water, fertilizer, and pesticides only where needed. Uniquely, it operates without Wi-Fi or fixed infrastructure, running entirely on solar energy, making it practical and affordable for smallholder farmers with limited resources.
Pilots and Early Success
The pilot trials took place in the castor fields of Lanva. Equipped with mobile soil probes, SaurSinchAI measured moisture, pH, and nutrient levels in real time, then irrigated accordingly. Across fifteen farms, the results were striking: water savings of 60–70% (nearly 7 million liters annually), a 35% reduction in pesticide costs, and yield increases of up to 30%. What began as an experiment soon became a proof of concept for a model of farming that is precise, sustainable, and farmer-friendly.
Building a Movement
Under Ayan’s leadership, Krishi Mitra has grown into a full-scale social initiative, engaging more than 3,300 farmers, empowering 240 women entrepreneurs, and mobilizing 120 youth across five villages. The effort is now strengthened by 24 peer Krishi Mitras who contribute actively to driving the movement forward. More than 1,800 soil tests have been conducted, giving farmers, for the first time, a scientific understanding of pH, salinity, NPK, and moisture levels in their fields.
With this knowledge, communities have shifted from water-hungry wheat to more resilient crops like cumin, castor, and millet. Composting, mulching, and microbial brews are reviving soil fertility, while ergonomic weeding tools have reduced physical strain by 70%, collectively saving 15,000 labor hours every month.
Women and Youth at the Center
Women, too, have stepped into the economy through Krishimitra’s Gruh Udyog program. Trained in food safety, packaging, and business skills, 240 women have turned household recipes into micro-enterprises, often quadrupling their incomes. Meanwhile, farmer groups are practicing collective marketing, securing Rs 35 lakh in additional income in 2024–25 through bulk sales and reduced spoilage. With over 120 students being trained to conduct soil tests, maintain rovers, and lead STEM workshops, Ayan wants to create a generation of changemakers such as himself.
Recognition and Partnerships
Ayan presented his work at Ganpat University, engaging with Dean Maurvi Vasavda and Professor Pratik Raval, who offered insights on scaling his solutions for larger farms. Krishimitra has since partnered with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) and Ganpat University in Mehsana district for village-level adoption.
Mukesh Patel, MLA of Mehsana, endorsed Ayan’s efforts and encouraged integration with district agricultural programs. Taking it further, Ayan pitched SaurSinchAI to the Gujarat Department of Agriculture for subsidization under precision farming schemes- an effort to make the rover affordable for smallholder farmers while conserving groundwater at scale.
A Future Rooted in Legacy
Ayan’s journey bridges legacy and innovation, turning inherited values into solutions designed for today’s fields. What began as listening circles beneath neem trees has grown into a movement that restores dignity, resilience, and sustainability to farming in North Gujarat. Through Krishimitra, Ayan Patel shows that when farmers are heard, women are empowered, and youth are engaged, farming becomes more than just survival- it becomes a legacy worth carrying forward.
