An invention that detects diseases in plants in advance is helping farmers to save their crops and livelihood! Developed by Odisha innovator Rishikesh Amit Nayak and his teammates from VIT‑Chennai, Kisan Know is an AI-powered loT device costing just ₹85 (~US $1) that detects and even predicts crop diseases up to 12 days in advance.

How does Kisan Know works? It uses a thermal sensor plus AI to spot subtle heat changes in plant leaves—signaling microbial infection before visible damage appears. All microbes and pests have thermal traces. Infected leaves also exhibit heat traces due stress created by hormonal and water. This thermal data captured by satellite imagery and scan is taken by field workers every 12 hours. AI helps in analyzing data and detecting diseases, identifying pests, and offering precise solutions.

What made Nayak invent Farmer Know?

Together with his college mates Niharika Haridas and Gideon Jacob, Nayak created Kishan Know. It is an AI-based intelligence system that helps farmers combat microbial and pest attacks.

Nayak is a student from VIT Chennai. His personal experience of growing up in Repur Patna, a farming village on the banks of the Mahanadi in Odisha made him work on this invention. Rishikesh Nayak’s grandfather was a farmer and Nayak saw him depressed every time there was a crop failure. This made him delve deeper into understanding the reasons behind crop failures.

How do farmers use Kisan know? Simple and straightforward steps!

• Farmers carry the device to fields.
• Thermal and environmental data collected by field workers every 12 hours.
• AI analyzes patterns and flags problem areas—pinpointing which crops, where, and why.
• Alerts are given early enough for timely treatment.

Farmer know is a revolutionary device because-

• Ultra‑low cost ₹85-    Accessible to small‑scale farmers
• Early detection-Up to 12 days before symptoms show.
• AI-driven- Accurate identification of disease or stress causes
• Scalable-Over 3,000 farmers already use Farmer know.

Impact and validation:

• Prompting action before crop failure means significant yield protection.
• Device developed by Nayak in response to local tragedies: After losing four fellow farmers to suicide, Rishikesh Nayak built Kisan Know.
• Earned recognition through Intel’s OpenVINO festival and media coverage by platforms like The Better India, LinkedIn, and more.

How can farmers access this device?

Since it is early-stage and community-driven: Farmers can connect with local agriculture extension cells or cooperatives in Odisha. Meanwhile, watch for pilots or NGO-supported local rollouts. Follow updates from developers -Rishikesh’s university or Intel partnerships -on broader availability.

Do you know there are other AgriTech tools that help farmers in diverse ways?

• Nano Ganesh: Enables remote control of irrigation via mobile phone.
• Kisan e‑Mitra: An AI voice‑chatbot assisting farmers with scheme details in 11 regional languages.
• Other AI models helping farmers are: E‑NAM, PM‑KUSUM, Fasal Bima, etc., supporting markets, solar pumps, and crop insurance.

Kisan Know demonstrates how cutting‑edge tech—thermal imaging, satellite data, AI—can become affordable and lifesaving. It empowers small and marginal farmers to act early, reduce crop loss, and potentially save livelihoods.

References:

1. https://www.instagram.com/thebetterindia (and image credit)
2. https://yourstory.com/2021/12/student-team-help-farmers-combat-microbial-pest-attacks-ai (and image credit)
3. https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/on-kisan-divas-tracking-a-new-trend-in-agriculture-rise-of-the-techno-farmer
4. https://www.greyb.com/blog