But most of it remains fragmented, locked in systems that don't talk to each other, and too complex for field teams to actually use.

Vinay Nair and Richa Nair discovered this gap while selling natural fertilisers to farmers in Maharashtra. Despite heavy tech adoption, critical decisions were still being made without reliable, accessible data on the ground.

With Vinay's tech expertise and Richa's background in farming biology, the duo built a simple phone-based advisory app.

According to the founders, it was during the COVID lockdown that farm guidance moved entirely online, and the real problem became clear: most farmers struggled with hard-to-use apps and incomplete data.

That insight led to the launch of KhetiBuddy in 2021. It is a Pune-based, multi-modular SaaS platform built for mid to large-sized farm businesses.

"Agriculture generates a lot of data...but all this data is fragmented, and none of them talks to each other," Vinay says.

KhetiBuddy's core aim is to solve this, bringing scattered farm data into a single, usable system. Built on a farm-first philosophy, the platform translates on-ground realities into clear, actionable insights across crops, supply chains, costs, and sustainability goals.

One platform, four problems solved

KhetiBuddy structures its offering around four core pillars, all powered by a shared farm data layer. This allows businesses to start with a single use case, such as improving crop yields or managing exports, and expand without rebuilding systems.

Its farm management module tracks the entire crop cycle, from sowing to harvest. It logs planting dates, soil tests, weather updates, satellite imagery, and sensor data, creating a detailed record.

This data feeds into post-harvest and supply chain tracking, which follows produce from farms to factories or markets, ensuring end-to-end traceability.

The operations and ERP module integrates with existing accounting tools or independently manages finances and inventory.

Its sustainability and compliance module measures carbon footprint, supports eco-friendly initiatives, and generates reports required for regulations or exports.

"Wineries use it for live production updates, tobacco firms for export paperwork. The same data serves multiple needs," Vinay says.

The tech behind it

KhetiBuddy operates through a web platform for enterprise teams and two mobile apps, one for farmers and another for field officers, enabling real-time data capture from farms. Depending on digital comfort, either farmers input data directly, or field staff assist them.

The platform is built on Java and React for web, React Native for iOS and Android phones, and cloud infrastructure such as AWS and Azure.

For large clients, it is deployed as a white-label solution, allowing farmers to interact with a familiar brand.

In early 2026, the company launched Verdnt, an upgraded version of KhetiBuddy that integrates farm and supply chain data for better decision-making across growth, compliance, and sustainability.

The upgrade adds features like weather alerts, satellite-based crop monitoring, and photo-based pest identification.

"Farmers don't care about AI; they care about solving farm problems," Vinay says. Each client's data remains encrypted, isolated, and fully owned by them.

Selling to agribusinesses

KhetiBuddy follows a SaaS subscription model, with annual pricing based on modules and users, along with a one-time setup fee based on the complexity of the digitisation process.

The company works with agronomy, digital, supply chain, or sustainability teams, depending on client needs. Sales begin by mapping workflows and demonstrating value through pilots, using the client's own data.

This approach has delivered measurable results. Businesses using the farm management module report 15-20% higher crop yields along with comparable cost savings. Production teams also benefit from improved forecasting, moving from reactive to proactive operations.

Godfrey Phillips reduced compliance time by 30-40%, replacing manual documentation with automated reporting. Himalaya Wellness uses the platform to manage its medicinal crop farms.

KhetiBuddy has also partnered with the Maharashtra government and the World Bank on a regenerative agriculture project, helping farmers understand that the value of data creates in sustainability programs and carbon credit systems.

Where it fits in the market

The global farm management software market, valued at $4.18 billion in 2024, is projected to reach $10.58 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 17.3%, according to Grand View Research.

KhetiBuddy operates in this space alongside Indian players like CropIn and international platforms such as Agrivi and Agworld.

Its positioning spans farm management, supply chain tracking, and sustainability data. A key differentiator is its on-ground expertise. The team continues to work directly with farmers through its fertiliser business, reducing onboarding friction for clients.

As farming shifts from intuition-led practices to data-driven decision-making, digital records are becoming essential, helping improve yields while supporting long-term sustainability goals.

Traction and the road ahead

Bootstrapped and commercially active since early 2023, KhetiBuddy now serves more than 35 clients. The company's revenue grew 50-60% between its first and second year, with 100% client retention from its 2023 cohort.

India remains its primary market. Internationally, pilots are underway in Canada and the US. It has entered Europe recently with a client in France, and expansion into the Middle East and Africa is next.

The company, with a 42-member team, operates lean, with global deployments managed remotely from India via cloud infrastructure, supported by local project managers when needed.

Over the next five years, KhetiBuddy aims to become a full-stack digital partner for agribusinesses, covering farm operations, supply chains, and ERP systems.

"The vision is very clear: to solve the data problem for agribusinesses and be their digital transformation player," Vikas says.

Edited by Megha Reddy